What’s Next for Bitcoin as ETFs Surge and Corporates Turn to BTC for Yield
Bitcoin’s momentum shows no signs of slowing. Now trading around $118,500, the $2.36 trillion asset continues to ride a wave of institutional demand, buoyed by record ETF inflows and a growing push from corporate treasuries.
In July, spot Bitcoin ETFs saw only one day of outflows, on the 1st. Since then, they have recorded 10 straight days of inflows totaling $5.227 billion, according to Farside.
With that, Bitcoin ETF issuers now hold $152.40 billion in total net assets. BlackRock’s IBIT leads the pack, capturing $56 billion in total net inflows.
Meanwhile, more public companies are ramping up their Bitcoin allocations.
Corporate treasuries have been buying more BTC than ETFs for three consecutive quarters now. In the second quarter, public companies acquired about 131,000 coins, as per the data from Bitcoin Treasuries.
So, Michael Saylor’s Strategy isn’t alone in its aggressive Bitcoin buys, though it certainly leads with 576,230 BTC, which is 2.74% of BTC’s total supply.
According to Rich Rines, Initial Contributor at Core, this “growing adoption of Bitcoin as a treasury asset amid economic uncertainties” could accelerate the momentum that started with Bitcoin halving and has been aided by pro-industry bills.
Against this backdrop, the market is looking primed for much higher prices. Already, BTC is up 83.2% in the past year, now helping the broad crypto market finally rally too.
“The remainder of 2025 looks exceptionally promising for the crypto market, particularly for Bitcoin,” said Rich.
With the momentum “driven by increasing institutional adoption, macroeconomic tailwinds, and clearer regulatory frameworks,” Rich added, “this translates to accelerated growth in Bitcoin treasury strategies, where companies are succeeding with large-scale holding and now exploring ways to earn low-risk yield on those assets without compromising self-custody.”
Bitcoin treasury companies started as pure BTC holders but have since scaled into yield-generating tools. For instance, Strategy is offering 11.5% yield on its new preferred stock, which is collateralized by its BTC reserves.
This evolution from buy-and-hold into structured, capital-efficient yield vehicles is expected to help the Bitcoin DeFi sector grow as well.
Bitcoin DeFi, or BTCFi, is a growing ecosystem of DeFi applications built on the Bitcoin blockchain or its layer-2 solutions. It allows users to leverage their Bitcoin holdings in various financial activities like lending, borrowing, and staking, previously not possible within the traditional Bitcoin ecosystem.
Core, for instance, is actively transforming idle Bitcoin into a productive, yield-generating asset through self-custodial BTC staking. Already, the total value locked (TVL) in the BTCFi sector has surged past $7 billion.
This marks a significant increase from approximately $300 million in TVL at the beginning of 2024, showing enthusiasm among both retail and institutions to bring yield-generation strategies to Bitcoin and transcend its role as a passive store of value.
“As more Bitcoin holders seek productive uses for their holdings, Bitcoin-aligned ecosystems are positioned to capture significant market share. Bitcoin DeFi developments can transform idle Bitcoin into a more versatile asset that supports broader applications,” said Rich.
The outlook for BTC prices and Bitcoin DeFi (BTCFi) remains constructive, driven by growing institutional participation and an expanding range of use cases. As the ecosystem matures, continued progress in corporate adoption and infrastructure innovation will be key to shaping long-term market dynamics.
The rise of corporate treasury strategies has contributed meaningfully to recent price momentum, though it also increases sensitivity to broader market conditions. These approaches often benefit from sustained price appreciation, which may be tested during periods of consolidation.
Other potential headwinds for Bitcoin, according to Rich, include heightened volatility from geopolitical events, tariff impacts, and unexpected Fed policy shifts, all of which could “trigger pullbacks.”
Overall, sentiment remains positive. ETF flows, central bank direction, and the evolution of corporate Bitcoin strategies will be important indicators. Sustained strength in these areas could further reinforce Bitcoin’s role as a productive, yield-bearing asset class, particularly as platforms like Core continue to unlock new functionality for institutional holders.
Disclaimer: 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.
