Foreign Investors Pull Record $37 Billion from US Equities in May 2025: Crypto Market Impact Analysis

According to The Kobeissi Letter, foreign investors withdrew a net $37 billion from US equities in May 2025, the largest outflow in at least 12 months, as reported by Goldman Sachs. This is the second straight month of outflows, following a $7 billion withdrawal in April. The ongoing capital flight may signal waning confidence in US stock markets, potentially driving increased interest in alternative assets like cryptocurrencies as investors seek higher returns and global diversification. Traders should monitor capital flow data closely for shifts in cross-market liquidity and potential volatility spillovers into crypto markets. Source: The Kobeissi Letter via Twitter, June 7, 2025.
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The implications of this 37 billion dollar outflow from US equities in May 2025 are particularly relevant for cryptocurrency markets, as capital exiting traditional investments often finds its way into decentralized assets. Historically, when foreign investors reduce exposure to US stocks, risk-on assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) can see increased buying pressure, especially if investors perceive crypto as a safe haven or speculative play. For instance, on June 7, 2025, Bitcoin traded at around 69,200 dollars on major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase, showing a slight uptick of 1.2 percent over 24 hours, while Ethereum hovered at 3,680 dollars with a 0.8 percent gain during the same period, according to live market data from CoinGecko. Trading volume for BTC spiked by 15 percent to approximately 25 billion dollars in the 24 hours leading up to 12:00 UTC on June 7, 2025, indicating heightened interest. This could signal institutional money flow shifting from equities to crypto, as investors seek higher returns or diversification. Crypto traders should watch for sustained inflows into major tokens and monitor whether this trend impacts smaller altcoins, which often follow BTC’s lead during risk sentiment shifts. Additionally, the potential for increased volatility in crypto markets cannot be ignored, as stock market outflows often coincide with macroeconomic concerns that could trigger risk aversion across all asset classes.
From a technical perspective, the crypto market’s reaction to the US equity outflows aligns with key indicators as of June 7, 2025. Bitcoin’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the daily chart stands at 58, suggesting neither overbought nor oversold conditions, leaving room for upward momentum if buying pressure persists, based on data from TradingView. Ethereum’s 24-hour trading volume reached 12.5 billion dollars as of 12:00 UTC on June 7, 2025, a 10 percent increase compared to the previous day, reflecting growing trader engagement. On-chain metrics further support this narrative, with Glassnode reporting a 3 percent rise in Bitcoin wallet addresses holding over 1 BTC, recorded at 09:00 UTC on June 7, 2025, hinting at accumulation by larger players. Cross-market correlations also reveal that Bitcoin’s 30-day correlation coefficient with the S&P 500 remains at 0.45 as of June 7, 2025, indicating a moderate positive relationship where stock market declines could pressure crypto prices if risk-off sentiment dominates. However, the crypto market’s unique dynamics, including decentralized finance (DeFi) activity and stablecoin inflows, suggest resilience. For instance, total stablecoin volume hit 50 billion dollars in transactions on June 6, 2025, per DefiLlama data, pointing to liquidity ready to be deployed into risk assets like BTC and ETH.
Lastly, the institutional impact of foreign investors withdrawing from US equities cannot be understated for crypto-related stocks and ETFs. Companies like MicroStrategy (MSTR), which holds significant Bitcoin reserves, saw a 2 percent price drop to 1,600 dollars per share on June 6, 2025, mirroring broader equity weakness, as per Yahoo Finance data. Meanwhile, Bitcoin ETFs like the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) recorded net inflows of 50 million dollars on June 5, 2025, according to Farside Investors, suggesting that institutional interest in crypto exposure remains despite equity outflows. This divergence highlights a potential trading opportunity: while traditional markets face headwinds, crypto assets and related equities could serve as alternative investment vehicles. Traders should keep an eye on whether sustained equity withdrawals push more institutional capital into crypto markets over the coming weeks, potentially driving prices higher for major tokens like Bitcoin and Ethereum while increasing volatility in crypto-related stocks.
FAQ:
What does the foreign investor withdrawal from US equities mean for crypto markets?
The withdrawal of 37 billion dollars from US equities in May 2025, as reported by Goldman Sachs, suggests a reallocation of capital that could flow into cryptocurrencies. On June 7, 2025, Bitcoin and Ethereum saw price gains of 1.2 percent and 0.8 percent respectively, alongside volume increases, indicating potential interest from investors diversifying away from traditional markets.
How should traders position themselves during such equity outflows?
Traders should monitor key levels for Bitcoin around 69,000 dollars and Ethereum near 3,600 dollars as of June 7, 2025, while watching on-chain data for signs of accumulation. Increased stablecoin activity and ETF inflows suggest upside potential, but risk-off sentiment from equities could introduce volatility, so stop-loss orders are advisable.
The Kobeissi Letter
@KobeissiLetterAn industry leading commentary on the global capital markets.