Crypto ETPs Record $1.7 Billion Sell-Offs: CoinShares

2025年03月18日

Key Takeaways:

  • Crypto ETPs saw notable withdrawals as market uncertainty alters investor strategies.
  • Bitcoin experienced the largest pull while select digital assets attracted renewed interest.
  • Early technical cues and institutional moves add a cautious angle to market shifts.

Cryptocurrency exchange-traded products (ETPs) saw outflows totaling $1.7 billion last week, as global investors continued pulling capital amid broader market declines, according to a March 17 CoinShares report.

Crypto ETPs Liquidation Streak Reaches $6.4 Billion Over Five Weeks

The latest report shows that the market downturn has triggered cumulative outflows of $6.4 billion over the past five weeks.

While last week’s outflows softened slightly to $876 million compared to prior weeks, the trend remains negative.

March10-14 Crypto Asset flows / Source: CoinShares

CoinShares’ Head of Research, James Butterfill, noted that the sell-offs have extended to 17 consecutive days, marking the longest outflow streak since CoinShares began tracking ETP flows in 2015.

Despite the prevailing bearish sentiment, year-to-date inflows remain positive at $912 million.

However, the sustained withdrawals have caused a major drop in total assets under management (AuM), which declined by $48 billion.

Bitcoin Leads Crypto ETP Sell-Offs, While XRP and Cardano Record Inflows

Bitcoin ETPs bore the brunt of the sell-off, with total outflows hitting $5.4 billion over the past five weeks.

This has nearly erased year-to-date inflows, which now stand at $612 million.

US-based ETFs led the sell-off, contributing $1.16 billion in outflows, which accounted for 93% of total weekly liquidations.

Crypto ETP outflow by country/ source: CoinShares

Switzerland also faced heavy selling pressure, with $528 million exiting due to a seed investor’s withdrawal. Meanwhile, Germany recorded a minor inflow of $8 million.

The broader decline in crypto ETPs was further reflected in Ethereum and Solana products, which posted outflows of $176 million and $2.2 million, respectively.

However, not all digital assets experienced declines. XRP and Cardano recorded positive flows, with XRP seeing $1.8 million in inflows and Cardano attracting a modest $400,000.

Market Sentiment Pressures Crypto ETPs, Bitcoin’s Technical Signals Suggest Possible Recovery

Unlike the previous CoinShares report, which cited factors such as the $1.4 billion Bybit hack and hawkish Federal Reserve comments as reasons for early March outflows, the latest report attributes the continued decline to broader negative market sentiment.

Technical indicators, however, suggest Bitcoin may be approaching a potential turning point.

Bitcoin’s stochastic RSI has printed a bullish cross, a setup that has historically preceded strong price rebounds.

Historically, Bitcoin has seen price recoveries averaging 55% within three to five months following such signals, with some rallies extending beyond 90%.

Meanwhile, institutional players have been adjusting their strategies amid the ongoing correction.

Data shows that global crypto hedge funds have increased their Bitcoin exposure, with accumulation levels rising to a four-month high.

Despite the current downturn in crypto ETPs, some institutional investors remain optimistic, anticipating a possible price recovery in the coming months.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What drives investors to withdraw from crypto ETPs?

Investors pull funds from crypto ETPs amid market volatility and shifting regulations that drive a shift toward safer assets. Technical signals hint at a subtle change in risk appetite.

How might technical signals affect investor decisions?

Technical indicators often mark subtle shifts in market trends, prompting investors to reconsider positions. These cues offer one view among factors that shape cautious moves.

What role do institutional investors play in crypto market shifts?

Institutional players adjust portfolios amid market shifts. Their moves signal strategic shifts that shape trends and reflect cautious outlook in the digital asset space.

The post Crypto ETPs Record $1.7 Billion Sell-Offs: CoinShares appeared first on Cryptonews.

World Network Partners With Global Gaming Brand Razer, Reveals New Proof-of-Human Tech

2025年03月18日

World, the crypto project co-founded by OpenAI’s Sam Altman, has partnered with Razer, a major global lifestyle brand for gamers, revealing ‘Razer ID verified by World ID’.

According to the press release shared with Cryptonews, the collaboration aims to put “human gamers at the center of the AI gaming revolution.”

Gamers can use their Razer ID to create a World ID account and verify as human.

‘Razer ID verified by World ID’ is available in 22 countries, including Austria, Germany, Poland, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Argentina, Mexico, the United States, and more.

The team explained that the ‘Razer ID verified by World ID’ is a novel single sign-on (SSO) proof-of-human technology. In short, it will verify real human gamers for Razer ID, proving that a person is behind every Razer ID account.

Furthermore, the unified SSO enables people to log into all services and software within the Razer ecosystem. This includes game payment services, a game booster, a unified cloud-based hardware configuration tool for full customizations, and a rewards program, the team said.

In turn, this will create “a safer, more authentic, and immersive environment for gamers worldwide.”

Additionally, it will give game developers a tool to build dynamic spaces for humans, not bots, and streamline player authentication for seamless logins.

Meanwhile, the new SSO’s first integration will be the TOKYO BEAST game. The human-verified accounts will highlight the project’s authenticity, said the announcement.

Notably, the tech aims to protect players from bots, scams, and misinformation. This is key given that the game allows NFT collection and in-game purchases through Razer Gold, a game payment service combining payment aggregation, wallet, webshop, and gift cards.

“World ID enables gamers to distinguish between authentic human interactions and AI-generated content, all while safeguarding their privacy,” commented Tiago Sada, Chief Product Officer at Tools for Humanity, a key contributor to World.

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Gamers Want to Know if Their Competitor Is a Bot

The press release highlighted that AI-driven gaming is swiftly becoming the new normal.

“As AI continues to reshape the gaming world, we want to empower gamers and game developers with the tools they need to navigate this transformation safely and confidently,” said Wei-Pin Choo, Chief Corporate Officer of Razer.

To have fair competition and protect the human experience, “developers must be able to build trusted, human-only game experiences that keep AI bots out,” the exec said.

Meanwhile, Echelon Insights recently conducted a third-party survey of gamers, commissioned by Tools for Humanity. They found that gamers are running into external or unauthorized bots “somewhat often” and that these bots make the gaming experience “less fun and less fair.”

Source: Impact of AI and Bots in Gaming Survey

Also, 59% of the surveyed gamers reported that they regularly encounter unauthorized, third-party bots in games. Therefore, AI and bots are changing the gaming experience for players, the report concluded.

It explained that 59% of respondents say it is “extremely or very important to know whether they are competing against a bot or a real human in the game.”

Furthermore, 71% of gamers say bots are “ruining” multiplayer competition. 74% say they make it less fun to play certain games. Notably, 18% have stopped playing a game entirely in response to bots.

Therefore, 77% of gamers, across generational demographics, agree its relevant to prove humanity online. Also, 75% of gamers who play more than 10 hours per week want online gaming platforms to use biometric technology to verify humans.

Source: Impact of AI and Bots in Gaming Survey

The team noted that ‘Razer ID verified by World ID’ solves all these issues for gamers and developers, delivering more value to both.

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Malaysia Warns of Rising Crypto Investment Scams Targeting Professionals and Seniors

2025年03月18日

Malaysia is witnessing a sharp rise in crypto investment scams, with authorities warning that professionals and senior citizens are increasingly becoming prime targets.

According to a report from TheMalaysianReserve, Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (JSJK) Director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf has urged caution, particularly for investors over 60 years old who might be lured by the promise of high returns.

Victims Of Crypto Investment Scams Increasing

Ramli highlighted a recent case in which a 74-year-old lost tens of millions of ringgit after falling victim to a fraudulent scheme.

Many of these scams operate under the illusion that purchasing multiple cryptocurrency coins, each worth hundreds of thousands of ringgit will guarantee enormous profits.

However, as he clarified, “no investment is made; it’s purely a scam.”

Beyond cryptocurrency fraud, phone scams remain a growing concern. Scammers often impersonate trusted authorities such as financial regulators, banks, and law enforcement agencies to manipulate victims into handing over their money.

Ramli emphasized that legitimate agencies such as the Royal Malaysia Police, the Inland Revenue Board, and Bank Negara Malaysia do not operate through elaborate multi-step phone calls where victims are transferred between different departments.

The increasing complexity of these scams can be attributed to rapid technological advancements.

Cyber-enabled and cyber-dependent crimes have become more sophisticated. They often leverage AI-based tools and deepfake technology to convincingly impersonate officials or reputable cryptocurrency projects.

Experts warn that these tactics will likely evolve, making scams even more difficult to detect.

Growing Threat of Unregulated Investment Schemes

The Malaysian Digital Asset Platform Association (MDAPA) has raised concerns that scammers are exploiting social media platforms to prey on vulnerable groups, particularly senior citizens seeking financial security in retirement.

Many fraudulent actors impersonate agents of legitimate digital asset exchanges, tricking investors into transferring funds under false pretenses.

MDAPA stresses that approved exchanges will never guarantee investment returns, flaunt displays of wealth, or use third-party intermediaries. In fact, its rigorous regulatory approval process has sent top exchanges like ByBit away.

Investors must conduct all transactions themselves via official exchange platforms or mobile applications.

The Securities Commission Malaysia has approved only six digital asset exchanges, including HATA Digital, Luno Malaysia, MX Global, SINEGY DAX, Tokenize Technology, and Torum International.

Additionally, two initial exchange offering platforms, Pitch Platforms and Kapital DX, have been approved.

Investors are strongly advised to check the Securities Commission Malaysia’s official website for a list of regulated digital asset players before making any financial commitments.

Malaysia’s Countermeasures Against Fraud

In response to the surge in investment scams, Malaysian authorities are leveraging advanced technology to track illicit transactions and enhance fraud detection.

AI-powered systems and blockchain analytics are being integrated into law enforcement strategies to identify fraudulent activities more effectively.

Authorities have also intensified enforcement efforts, leading to many arrests.

According to the report, the JSJK reported 23,000 successful arrests linked to scam syndicates across Malaysia last year.

Many of these fraudulent operations are run from luxury condominiums in high-density areas such as Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Penang, further complicating tracking and enforcement efforts.

Beyond cryptocurrency fraud, Malaysia is also grappling with a rise in illegal Bitcoin mining activities.

Authorities have uncovered numerous cases of miners illicitly tapping into electricity grids, resulting in hundreds of millions of ringgit in financial losses. The most recent one was on February 13, following a blast caused by the miners.

This further highlights the broader issue of financial crimes linked to the crypto industry.

To combat these threats, Malaysian authorities urge the public to stay vigilant and report suspected scams to the Commercial Crime Investigation Department via 03-26101559 or the National Scam Response Centre at 997.

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