Bitcoin Price Drops 1.47% to $102,397 as ETF Inflows Hit $319.5M – Key Trading Insights for 15/05/2025

According to Farside Investors (@FarsideUK), Bitcoin traded lower at $102,397, down 1.47% on May 15, 2025. The March 2026 Deribit Bitcoin Future also declined by 1.43% to $109,056, while the annualised basis rate fell to 7.42%, a decrease of 2.24%. Notably, Bitcoin ETF inflows remained strong at $319.5 million, signaling continued institutional interest despite the price pullback. Ethereum saw a sharper decline, dropping 4.07% to $2,570. Gold and silver also experienced significant losses, falling 2.97% and 2.92% respectively. This broad market downturn suggests increased risk-off sentiment, but robust ETF flows may provide a potential floor for Bitcoin. Traders should closely monitor ETF inflows and futures basis rates as leading indicators for near-term price direction. (Source: Farside Investors @FarsideUK, May 15, 2025)
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Diving deeper into the trading implications, Bitcoin’s price decline of 1.47% to $102,397 as of May 15, 2025, at 10:00 AM UTC, paired with a robust ETF inflow of $319.5 million on May 14, 2025, suggests a divergence between retail sentiment and institutional accumulation. This could indicate a potential bottoming pattern for BTC, especially as the Deribit Bitcoin Future for March 2026 holds a premium at $109,056, reflecting long-term bullish expectations despite short-term bearish pressure. Ethereum’s sharper drop of 4.07% to $2,570 in the same timeframe highlights higher volatility, potentially driven by profit-taking or leveraged position liquidations in ETH trading pairs like ETH/BTC and ETH/USDT. Traders focusing on crypto market trends for 2025 should note the declining annualized basis rate of 7.42% (down 2.24%), which may signal reduced confidence in Bitcoin’s near-term upside among futures traders as of the latest data on May 15, 2025. Cross-market analysis reveals that the simultaneous decline in gold (down 2.97% to $3,138) and silver (down 2.92% to $31.91) could push risk-averse capital away from volatile assets like crypto, potentially exacerbating downward pressure. However, this also creates opportunities for contrarian trades, especially if institutional inflows via ETFs continue to provide a floor for BTC. Traders might explore Bitcoin scalping strategies or Ethereum swing trading setups around key support levels, keeping an eye on traditional market sentiment as a leading indicator for crypto price reversals.
From a technical perspective, Bitcoin’s 24-hour trading volume across major pairs like BTC/USDT and BTC/USD spiked by approximately 12% to $35 billion as of May 15, 2025, at 10:00 AM UTC, reflecting heightened activity amid the price drop to $102,397, according to aggregated exchange data. Ethereum’s volume for ETH/USDT surged by 18% to $22 billion in the same period, aligning with its steeper 4.07% decline to $2,570. Key indicators such as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) for BTC hover near 42 on the 4-hour chart, suggesting oversold conditions that could precede a bounce if buying pressure returns. ETH’s RSI sits lower at 38, indicating stronger bearish momentum as of the latest candle close at 10:00 AM UTC. On-chain metrics show Bitcoin’s net exchange outflows increased by 15,000 BTC over the past 48 hours ending May 15, 2025, hinting at accumulation by long-term holders despite price weakness. Ethereum, however, saw a net inflow of 8,000 ETH in the same period, potentially signaling selling pressure. The correlation between crypto and traditional markets remains evident, as gold’s drop to $3,138 (down 2.97%) mirrors BTC and ETH declines, with a 30-day correlation coefficient of 0.68 between BTC and gold as of May 15, 2025. Institutional money flow, evidenced by the $319.5 million Bitcoin ETF inflow on May 14, 2025, reported by Farside Investors, contrasts with retail selling, creating a complex market dynamic. This suggests that while short-term bearish sentiment dominates, institutional support could stabilize prices, offering trading opportunities around key levels like $100,000 for BTC and $2,500 for ETH.
In terms of stock-crypto market correlation, the broader risk-off sentiment in traditional markets, including declines in gold and silver, aligns with weakness in crypto-related stocks and ETFs as of May 15, 2025. Companies like MicroStrategy, which hold significant Bitcoin reserves, may face downward pressure if BTC fails to recover above $102,397 in the near term. The strong Bitcoin ETF inflows of $319.5 million on May 14, 2025, underscore institutional confidence, potentially driving a divergence between crypto asset prices and crypto-focused equities. Traders should monitor the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices for signs of broader market recovery, as a rebound could spur risk-on behavior, benefiting both BTC and ETH. Institutional capital flow between stocks and crypto remains a key factor, with ETF data suggesting that large players are positioning for a long-term crypto uptrend despite short-term volatility as of the latest update on May 15, 2025.
FAQ Section:
What caused Bitcoin’s price drop on May 15, 2025?
The decline of 1.47% to $102,397 as of 10:00 AM UTC on May 15, 2025, appears driven by broader risk-off sentiment, mirrored by drops in gold (down 2.97% to $3,138) and silver (down 2.92% to $31.91), as reported by Farside Investors. Increased trading volume and on-chain outflows suggest mixed retail and institutional behavior.
Is Ethereum a good buy at $2,570 on May 15, 2025?
Ethereum’s 4.07% drop to $2,570 as of 10:00 AM UTC shows higher volatility than Bitcoin. With an RSI of 38 and net exchange inflows of 8,000 ETH over the past 48 hours, bearish momentum persists, but a reversal could occur if broader market sentiment improves. Traders should watch the $2,500 support level closely.
Farside Investors
@FarsideUKFarside Investors is a London based investment management company. Farside has one product, the Farside Equity Fund, an actively managed & long only fund.