JPMorgan says crypto native investors likely behind recent market correction
Quick Take
- JPMorgan analysts say last week’s crypto market correction was likely driven by crypto native investors using perpetual futures, not by CME futures or crypto ETF users.
- Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs saw modest outflows, indicating limited liquidations from traditional investors, they said.
The severe correction in crypto markets last week, which involved massive liquidations, was likely driven by crypto native investors rather than institutional or retail ETF holders, according to JPMorgan analysts.
The analysts, led by managing director Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, said in a Thursday report that there was "little evidence" of significant liquidation in spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds, which are generally favored by traditional retail investors.
Between Oct. 10 and Oct. 14, bitcoin ETFs saw modest cumulative outflows of $220 million, or 0.14% of total assets under management, while Ethereum ETFs recorded a larger $370 million outflow, or 1.23% of AUM, the analysts noted.
Similarly, CME bitcoin futures — a key gauge of institutional positioning — showed few liquidations, while CME Ethereum futures saw heavier deleveraging, likely reflecting "greater de-risking" by momentum traders such as commodity trading advisors and quant funds, according to the analysts.
By contrast, perpetual futures, a product typically favored by crypto native traders, both retail and institutional, experienced sharp deleveraging. Open interest in bitcoin and Ethereum perpetual contracts fell by about 40% in dollar terms — a decline exceeding the price drops of both assets. That pattern, the analysts said, indicates that crypto native investors were the primary drivers of last week’s correction, while non-crypto native investors (who are more likely to use CME futures or crypto ETFs) remained largely on the sidelines.
Crypto markets were hit by the largest liquidation event in history last Friday, triggered in part by the latest round of tariff headlines from U.S. President Donald Trump. More than $20 billion in leveraged positions were wiped out, affecting over 1.5 million traders. Bitcoin, ether, and altcoins all saw steep declines. While prices have since stabilized somewhat, sentiment remains cautious.
Bitcoin is currently trading around $108,500, down about 2.5% in the past 24 hours, according to The Block’s bitcoin price page.
Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.
© 2025 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
