Bitcoin’s recent surge to $35,000 has been primarily driven by institutional investors, according to data from the CME and Hong Kong’s CSOP Bitcoin Futures ETF. Open interest in the CME’s Bitcoin product has reached a milestone of 100,000 BTC, indicating growing interest from institutional investors. The CME has become a preferred venue for these investors, with its open interest data showing a significant rise. This coincided with renewed optimism about the approval of a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), leading institutional investors to secure their positions in anticipation of further growth. The Hong Kong CSOP Bitcoin Futures ETF has also experienced remarkable growth, with a single trading session achieving a record trading volume supported by capital inflows. Overall, the data reveals that institutional interest is the driving force behind the recent surge in bitcoin’s price.