This Week's Bitcoin: Key Changes Ushering in a New Era

▲ Bitcoin (BTC) ©Godasol

Bitcoin (BTC) is signaling entry into a new phase, moving beyond a mere rebound, with institutional funds and changes in financial structure converging.

According to the cryptocurrency specialized media Bitcoinist on May 3 (local time), Bitcoin began trading above $78,000 in early May, securing significant upward momentum compared to its price movement over the past two months. Notably, this week saw major trends simultaneously emerge that suggest changes in market structure beyond just price increases.

The most notable change is the return of institutional funds. US Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded a net inflow of $1.97 billion during the month of April 2026, showing the strongest trend this year. This is a significant increase from $1.32 billion in March, interpreted as a signal overturning the redemption pressure and institutional outflow concerns that continued since the beginning of the year. The market assesses that the re-entry of institutional funds is easing downward price pressure.

Institutional participation in the form of 'indirect investment' rather than direct purchases is also expanding. Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo), a Canadian state-owned investment institution, managing approximately $195 billion in assets, purchased 1.38 million shares of Strategy, securing a total stake worth $219 million. Strategy is a company that employs a Bitcoin-centric strategy, and this investment is seen as an example of institutional demand to gain exposure without directly holding BTC. Major institutions such as the National Bank of Canada and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board are also reported to have taken similar positions.

The possibility of Bitcoin's 'incorporation into the credit market' has also emerged as a key change. At the 'Bitcoin 2026' conference held in Las Vegas, Strategy CEO Phong Le and Blockstream CEO Adam Back presented Bitcoin-based credit products and the expansion of the tokenization market as key future pillars. Notably, Strategy's perpetually preferred stock 'STRC (Stretch)' with an 11.5% annual dividend, which uses raised capital for Bitcoin purchases, was introduced as a financial product that allows access to a profit structure without direct ownership.

Currently, Bitcoin is approaching the $80,000 resistance level, but with structural changes such as recovering ETF demand, expanding institutional investment, and the emergence of credit-based products converging, the market is signaling the possibility of entering a new phase beyond simple price recovery.

*Disclaimer: This article is for investment reference only, and we are not responsible for any investment losses based on it. The content should be interpreted for informational purposes only.*