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

▲ Bitcoin (BTC) ©Dasol Ko

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

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

The most striking change is the return of institutional funds. US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a net inflow of $1.97 billion in April 2026, showing the strongest trend this year. This is a significant increase from $1.32 billion in March, interpreted as a signal that reverses the redemption pressure and concerns about institutional outflows that continued from the beginning of the year. The market assessment is that institutional funds are flowing back in, alleviating downward price pressure.

Institutional participation in the form of 'indirect investment' rather than direct purchases is also expanding. AIMCo (Alberta Investment Management Corporation), a Canadian state-owned investment institution managing approximately $195 billion in assets, purchased 1.38 million shares of Strategy, securing a total stake of $219 million. Strategy is a company that employs a Bitcoin-centric strategy, and this investment is considered 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 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 major future pillars. In particular, Strategy's perpetually preferred stock 'STRC (Stretch)' with an annual dividend of 11.5%, which uses raised funds for Bitcoin purchases, was introduced as a financial product that allows access to profit structures without direct ownership.

Currently, Bitcoin is approaching the $80,000 resistance level, but with the recovery of ETF demand, increased institutional investment, and the emergence of credit-based products, structural changes are converging, suggesting the market is entering a new stage 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.*