Institutional demand for Bitcoin appears to be weakening as macroeconomic uncertainty pushes larger investors toward caution. A key gauge of institutional activity, the Coinbase premium, has moved further into negative territory, suggesting that selling pressure from institutions has intensified. The premium has been negative for much of the period since late April, but it fell more sharply over the past week and reached its lowest point this month on May 21 at -0.0983%.
The Coinbase premium reflects the price gap between Bitcoin on Coinbase, which tends to see more activity from US institutions, and Binance, which is more heavily used by retail traders. A deeper negative reading typically indicates that Coinbase users are willing to sell at lower prices than traders on other venues, a sign of stronger institutional distribution. Analysts said the latest move suggests that professional investors are reducing exposure while waiting for clearer signals from the broader economy.
The same cautious tone is visible across other markets. Investors have also reduced demand for traditional stores of value such as gold , which has fallen 5.8% over the past month, while equities have continued to advance. The S&P 500 and dow jones Industrial Average have both trended higher since early April, indicating a shift in preference toward risk assets outside crypto.
Additional pressure is coming from exchange-traded funds and derivatives markets. US spot Bitcoin ETFs have recorded four straight sessions of outflows, totaling $1.3 billion since May 14. At the same time, Bitcoin open interest has fallen by about $1.5 billion this week, suggesting that speculative leverage is being unwound after Bitcoin ’s move toward $82,000.
Bitcoin has slipped 4.5% over the past week and briefly touched a monthly low just above $76,000 on Tuesday. It was trading near $77,621 at the time of writing, still well below its October peak. Market participants now appear to be waiting for stronger spot demand before the next sustained move develops.Two of six men accused of trying to abduct the wife of Sébastien Borget, the co-founder of The Sandbox, were arrested after they reportedly called an Uber to escape, according to local media. The alleged attack took place in the Île-de-France region of northern France and is the latest in a series of violent incidents targeting people linked to cryptocurrency.
Local reports said one assailant, posing as a delivery driver, persuaded Borget’s wife to open the gate to the family home. Five masked accomplices then rushed into the courtyard and allegedly tried to force her into a nearby car. The attempt failed after neighbors intervened, causing the group to flee. Four escaped by vehicle, while two ran on foot before ordering an Uber, which police later intercepted in Meaux. The two suspects were reportedly carrying a replica handgun, cable ties and balaclavas.
Investigators have linked the case to crypto-related motives. The incident comes as Europe, and France in particular, has seen a growing number of so-called wrench attacks — violent attempts to extort digital asset holders by targeting them or their families. Security firm CertiK said earlier this month that France has become a major hotspot for such attacks, often involving poorly organized criminals recruited through messaging apps and directed from abroad.
Borget’s wife was not injured, and four suspects remain at large. The case adds to a broader pattern that has alarmed both law enforcement and the crypto industry. TRM Labs said last year that attackers are increasingly exploiting the public visibility of wealth and the ease of gathering personal information online. It also noted that family members are becoming frequent targets.
Recent incidents have reinforced those concerns. In Paris last year, four men attempted to abduct the daughter and grandchild of French exchange executive Pierre Noizat. In another case, police rescued the father of a crypto entrepreneur after he was kidnapped for ransom. Security trackers say the number of such attacks continues to rise, underscoring the risks faced by high-profile figures in the digital asset sector.
