Scott Shay: Institutional interest in Bitcoin is fading, Bitcoin ETFs see no new inflows, and regulatory clarity is crucial for market stability | Galaxy Brains

Bitcoin ETFs face dwindling interest as regulatory uncertainty and market conditions challenge its future.

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Add us on Google by Editorial Team May. 28, 2026

Key takeaways

• Institutional and retail interest in Bitcoin is waning, leading to decreased inflows into Bitcoin ETFs.
• Bitcoin ETFs have seen almost no new net inflows this year, indicating a potential decline in Bitcoin’s market performance.
• Bitcoin might hit a yearly low of 60k within the next sixty days.
• Without regulatory clarity, Bitcoin risks fading away quietly rather than making a significant impact.
• The current Bitcoin market lacks catalysts and is trading poorly.
• Despite Bitcoin’s struggles, the trend of crypto adoption continues to grow, with increasing institutional engagement.
• On-balance sheet leverage in the system could lead to risky market scenarios.
• A resolution regarding Iran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz seems closer, affecting geopolitical stability.
• Diplomatic negotiations with Iran require face-saving measures for both sides to reach an agreement.
• Regulatory clarity is a crucial short-term catalyst for market movements.
• The lack of Bitcoin’s performance and attention may lead to a continued decline in interest.
• Institutional engagement in crypto markets is at an all-time high, indicating a shift in market dynamics.
• The market’s current poor trading conditions highlight the need for upcoming catalysts to drive movement.
• Geopolitical factors, like the Iran nuclear program, play a significant role in market stability.
• Regulatory developments are critical in shaping the future of the crypto market.

Guest intro

Scott Shay is the co-founder of Signature Bank and N3XT, a new Wyoming bank focused on modern banking infrastructure. He helped build Signature Bank into a major US commercial bank and has extensive experience navigating banking, payments, and financial regulation.

The disappearing institutional and retail interest in Bitcoin

• The institutional slash retail bid in crypto is disappearing

  — Scott Shay

• Bitcoin ETFs have seen almost no new net inflows this year.

• The tradfi bitcoin bid has disappeared

  — Scott Shay

• This trend highlights a significant shift in investor sentiment.
• Lack of new inflows suggests a potential ongoing decline in Bitcoin’s performance.

• If you incorporate the data from yesterday, you’re almost talking about almost no new net inflows

  — Scott Shay

• Understanding market dynamics is crucial to grasping this shift.
• The decline in interest reflects Bitcoin’s underperformance and lack of attention.

Bitcoin’s potential price movement

• Bitcoin could reach a yearly low of 60k in the next sixty days.

• I think you could get there probably in the next sixty days

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  — Scott Shay

• This prediction is based on current market trends and conditions.
• The forecast reflects a specific analysis of Bitcoin’s price cycles.
• Understanding historical price movements is key to this prediction.
• The market’s lack of catalysts contributes to this potential decline.

• You’re in a market that is trading poorly

  — Scott Shay

• The prediction highlights the need for positive momentum in the Bitcoin market.

The importance of regulatory clarity for Bitcoin

• Without clarity, Bitcoin risks fading away quietly.

• If clarity doesn’t happen, it’s likely to die with more of a whimper

  — Scott Shay

• Regulatory clarity is crucial for Bitcoin’s future success.
• The lack of clarity poses a significant threat to Bitcoin’s impact.
• Understanding the regulatory environment is essential for market sentiment.

• Whereas if it succeeds, it would be a bang

  — Scott Shay

• This viewpoint emphasizes the importance of clear regulations.
• The future of Bitcoin heavily relies on regulatory developments.

The growing trend of crypto adoption

• Institutional engagement in crypto is at an all-time high.

• The underlying trend of crypto adoption is only increasing

  — Scott Shay

• This trend highlights a significant shift in market dynamics.
• More institutional engagement than ever before is being observed.

• We see more institutional engagement than we probably ever have

  — Scott Shay

• The growing adoption reflects a positive outlook for crypto markets.
• Understanding institutional interest is crucial for market analysis.
• This trend contrasts with Bitcoin’s current struggles.

The risks of on-balance sheet leverage

• On-balance sheet leverage could lead to risky market scenarios.

• There’s a lot of on-balance sheet leverage

  — Scott Shay

• This leverage poses a significant risk to market stability.
• Understanding leverage is crucial for grasping market dynamics.
• The presence of leverage highlights potential tail scenarios.
• This insight emphasizes the importance of risk management.
• Market participants may not fully appreciate the risks involved.
• Leverage plays a critical role in shaping market conditions.

Geopolitical factors affecting market stability

• A resolution regarding Iran’s nuclear program seems closer.

• We are materially closer to a resolution

  — Scott Shay

• This resolution could impact geopolitical stability significantly.
• Understanding the geopolitical context is crucial for market analysis.
• The Strait of Hormuz plays a significant role in global stability.

• The keys to getting a deal done is just having enough in the deal

  — Scott Shay

• Diplomatic negotiations require face-saving measures for success.
• Geopolitical factors play a critical role in market dynamics.

The role of regulatory clarity as a market catalyst

• Regulatory clarity is a key near-term catalyst for the market.

• Clarity is the clear near-term catalyst

  — Scott Shay

• This clarity is crucial for driving market movements.
• Understanding the regulatory environment is essential for market sentiment.
• The lack of clarity poses a significant threat to market stability.
• This insight highlights the importance of clear regulations.
• Regulatory developments are critical in shaping the future of the crypto market.
• The market’s current conditions emphasize the need for regulatory clarity.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.