Bitcoin's Fourth Halving and the Impact of ETF Developments

As reported by CryptoPotato, Bitcoin's fourth halving has occurred, reducing block rewards to 3.125 BTC. While historically significant as a catalyst for a new bull cycle, ongoing debates question the diminishing effects of this halving. Nonetheless, there are several positive developments in the Bitcoin sector that could drive interest in the coming months.

In mid-January, the US Securities and Exchange Commission approved nearly a dozen spot Bitcoin ETFs for trading on local exchanges, marking one of the most significant developments this year. Led by BlackRock's IBIT and Fidelity's FBTC, these products attracted billions of dollars worth of BTC within just a few months. The demand triggered a substantial increase in spot BTC prices, nearly doubling its USD value and reaching a new all-time high before the halving for the first time. However, as inflows began to decrease, and even turned negative on some occasions, BTC's price growth was interrupted, and the asset fell by about ten thousand dollars from its March peaks. Reports suggest that these ETFs are crucial for Bitcoin's continued growth as an asset.

BNY Mellon, one of the oldest and largest banking organizations in the United States, recently disclosed its exposure to some of the spot BTC ETFs trading locally. BNY has long been a supporter of the cryptocurrency industry, even when most US banks were publicly criticizing or ignoring it. Another positive development in the US ETF market came from Morgan Stanley. The Wall Street giant is reportedly considering allowing its 15,000 brokers to recommend clients purchase spot Bitcoin ETF funds.

While US demand may be slowing down, there are more positive developments from other jurisdictions. Hong Kong is gearing up to launch its own spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs soon, although the impact is expected to be smaller due to the market's size compared to the US. Analysts like Lark Davis believe the launch of spot ETFs in Hong Kong will create a 'massive ripple effect' across the entire Asian continent