Bitcoin steadies as ETF outflows, AI rotation sap liquidity

Wintermute’s warning: crypto under pressure if conflict persists

According to wintermute, if the conflict persists, cryptocurrencies and other risk assets may remain under pressure. The market maker, a leading algorithmic liquidity provider, frames the risk as structural rather than purely sentiment-driven.

The firm previously highlighted a market structure shift with liquidity concentrating in bitcoin and ether, while external inflows slowed in 2025. It also reduced on-chain holdings in recent months, and noted retail investors have been rotating toward equities.

What’s behind it: liquidity drain, ETF redemptions, AI equity rotation

The firm points to a liquidity drain driven by capital moving into AI-linked equities, compounded by ETF redemptions and U.S. seller dominance. ETF redemptions remove units from funds when shares are sold in size, translating into net selling of underlying coins.

AI equity rotation describes investors reallocating toward high-growth AI names, leaving fewer marginal dollars for crypto. Market structure frictions, thin spot volumes and vertically integrated platforms that combine matching, custody, and prime functions, can magnify stress in downturns.

“The current calm in crypto markets may conceal latent risk,” said Evgeny Gaevoy, CEO. As reported by Cointelegraph, some institutional analysts also note BTC is increasingly treated as a macro asset, which can anchor resilience but does not eliminate drawdown risk during shocks.

As per Bitget Research, liquidations during recent tariff-related selloffs were largely catalyzed by macro triggers rather than crypto-native events. That linkage suggests cross-asset flows and policy headlines can quickly transmit into crypto volatility when liquidity is thin.

Near-term, thinner spot liquidity means larger price impact from relatively modest orders, heightening intraday volatility. If redemptions and U.S.-led net selling persist, downside pressure can spill from BTC into smaller tokens where order books are shallower.

At the time of this writing, Coinbase Global (COIN) is quoted at 175.12 per Nasdaq real-time price, while Bitcoin (BTC) is approximately 66,521. The figures indicate soft risk appetite and sensitivity to macro headlines amid mixed flows.

Indicators to watch and scenario pathways

ETF flows, spot volume, funding/OI, stablecoin supply

Monitor daily ETF creations versus redemptions for directional pressure. Track spot volume breadth across major venues; persistent thinning elevates slippage and gap risk. Watch futures funding and open interest for crowded leverage. Stablecoin supply trends can proxy fresh fiat inflows; sustained contraction implies limited dry powder.

BTC resilience vs altcoin fragility and liquidation risks

BTC’s deeper liquidity and institutional framing may buffer volatility, but altcoins remain fragile. Elevated open interest, negative funding, and basis dislocations can precede liquidation cascades, especially on vertically integrated venues during correlated risk-off moves.

FAQ about liquidity drain

What happens to crypto prices if ETF redemptions and U.S. seller dominance persist?

Sustained redemptions likely impose steady sell pressure on BTC, with contagion to altcoins via thinner liquidity, wider spreads, and higher forced-selling risk.

Why is capital rotating into AI equities and away from crypto, and how long could this rotation suppress crypto liquidity?

AI narratives and earnings visibility draw incremental capital. Rotation could persist until AI momentum cools or new crypto catalysts restore inflows and boost spot depth.