‘Hidden in plain sight’? $436mln BlackRock IBIT stake tied to Chinese capital
Following the approval of U.S. Spot Bitcoin ETFs in early 2024, institutional investment has grown significantly, with total holdings reaching over 682,830 BTC valued at $54.49 billion. Recent SEC filings reveal that a significant portion of this inflow may be tied to Chinese capital. An entity named Laurore Ltd., linked to Hong Kong via filer Zhang Hui, holds a $436 million stake in BlackRock’s IBIT Bitcoin ETF. This is believed to be a structured workaround for Chinese investors to access Bitcoin, which remains banned for institutional holdings in mainland China. The amount invested through BlackRock is roughly 1.6 times the total net asset value of all Hong Kong spot Bitcoin ETFs combined, which stands at only $264.9 million. Despite this inflow, the broader institutional Bitcoin market has faced severe outflows, with AUM dropping 66.6% since its peak, reflecting heightened caution and accelerated liquidations even beyond Bitcoin’s price decline. Market sentiment remains bearish, with whales and large holders continuing to sell, posing risks of further drawdowns.
ambcrypto02/18 13:32