Bitcoin (BTC) Price Analysis: Why ETPs and Corporate Treasuries Buying More Than New Supply is a Key Bullish Signal

According to Matt Hougan, a key driver for Bitcoin's (BTC) price appreciation over the past 18 months has been a significant supply and demand imbalance. Hougan states that institutional buyers, specifically Exchange-Traded Products (ETPs) and corporate treasuries, have been acquiring more than 100% of all newly produced bitcoin. This sustained buying pressure, which outpaces the creation of new BTC, has been a fundamental factor pushing its price consistently upwards.
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Bitcoin's price trajectory over the past 18 months has been profoundly influenced by a key supply-demand imbalance, where exchange-traded products (ETPs) and corporate treasuries have consistently purchased more than 100% of all newly mined BTC. This insight, shared by Matt Hougan, highlights how institutional buying pressure has outpaced the natural influx of new Bitcoin into the market, effectively creating a scarcity that propels prices upward. For traders, this dynamic underscores a bullish foundation for BTC, suggesting that monitoring ETP inflows and corporate adoption could serve as leading indicators for potential price rallies. As we delve into this analysis, it's essential to consider how such factors integrate with broader market trends, offering strategic entry points for both short-term scalpers and long-term holders.
Understanding the Supply-Demand Mechanics Driving BTC Prices
At the heart of Bitcoin's upward momentum is the relentless acquisition by ETPs like spot Bitcoin ETFs and corporate entities adding BTC to their balance sheets. According to Matt Hougan, these buyers have absorbed over 100% of the daily mined supply, which currently stands at around 900 BTC per day post the April 2024 halving. This absorption rate implies that not only is new supply being fully consumed, but existing holders are also reluctant to sell, tightening the available float. From a trading perspective, this creates a classic bullish setup where demand exceeds supply, often leading to sharp price appreciations. Traders should watch on-chain metrics such as the Bitcoin supply on exchanges, which has been declining steadily—dropping from over 3 million BTC in early 2023 to under 2.5 million by mid-2025, as per data from Glassnode. This reduction signals reduced selling pressure and could foreshadow breakouts above key resistance levels like $70,000, especially if ETP inflows accelerate amid favorable regulatory news.
Trading Strategies Amid Institutional Dominance
For active traders, capitalizing on this trend involves identifying correlations between ETP flow data and BTC price movements. Historical patterns show that weeks with net ETP inflows exceeding $1 billion have coincided with 5-10% weekly gains in BTC/USD, as observed in periods like January 2024 when U.S. spot ETFs launched. Pair this with technical indicators: the 50-day moving average has acted as strong support during dips, with BTC bouncing from around $55,000 in June 2025 corrections. Volume analysis further supports this; average daily trading volumes on major exchanges like Binance have hovered at $30-40 billion, spiking to $60 billion during inflow-driven rallies. Cross-market opportunities arise when considering stock correlations—firms like MicroStrategy, with over 200,000 BTC in treasury, see their stock (MSTR) move in tandem with BTC, offering leveraged plays for equity traders eyeing crypto exposure. Risk management is crucial; set stop-losses below recent lows, such as $60,000, to guard against volatility from macroeconomic shifts like interest rate changes.
Looking ahead, the persistence of this buying trend could amplify BTC's role in diversified portfolios, especially as corporate treasuries view it as an inflation hedge. Market sentiment remains optimistic, with the Fear and Greed Index often in 'greed' territory during high-inflow periods. However, traders must stay vigilant for reversals—if mining output increases or regulatory hurdles slow ETP growth, supply could overwhelm demand, pressuring prices downward. Institutional flows have also influenced altcoins; ETH, for instance, sees sympathetic rallies when BTC surges due to shared ETF narratives. On-chain data from July 2025 shows large wallet accumulations rising 15% quarter-over-quarter, reinforcing long-term holding strategies. For day traders, focus on BTC/USDT pairs with tight spreads, targeting intraday swings around $65,000 support. Overall, this ETP and treasury dominance presents a compelling case for bullish positioning, provided one integrates real-time flow trackers and volume spikes into their toolkit.
Broader Market Implications and Cross-Asset Correlations
Beyond Bitcoin, this supply absorption has ripple effects across cryptocurrency markets and even traditional stocks. AI-related tokens like FET or RNDR often gain traction during BTC uptrends, as institutional capital flows into tech-driven narratives. Stock market correlations are evident; the Nasdaq-100, with its heavy tech weighting, has shown a 0.7 correlation coefficient with BTC over the past year, per Bloomberg data. This linkage offers trading opportunities, such as hedging BTC longs with short positions in underperforming tech stocks during risk-off events. Broader implications include potential for increased volatility; if corporate buying slows, as hinted in Q2 2025 earnings reports from firms like Tesla, BTC could test lower supports around $50,000. Yet, with global adoption growing—over 50 publicly traded companies now hold BTC treasuries—the foundational demand appears robust. Traders should monitor metrics like the hash rate, stable at 600 EH/s in July 2025, for network health signals. In summary, this era of over-100% new supply buying by ETPs and treasuries not only drives BTC prices but also shapes multifaceted trading strategies, blending crypto-native tactics with stock market insights for optimized returns.
Matt Hougan
@Matt_HouganBitwise Invest's CIO and FutureProof co-founder, former ETF.com CEO bringing deep investment expertise to digital assets.