Wintermute, a leading algorithmic trading firm and cryptocurrency market maker, has released a comprehensive market analysis indicating a significant transition in digital asset liquidity dynamics. Despite favorable global monetary conditions and accommodative central bank policies, the crypto market appears to have entered what analysts describe as a “self-funded phase.”
According to Jasper De Maere of Wintermute, capital is now predominantly circulating within the existing crypto ecosystem rather than attracting substantial new external investment. This internal rotation pattern represents a fundamental shift from previous market cycles where continuous external capital inflows drove expansion.
The report highlights three critical liquidity channels experiencing notable deceleration. Stablecoin inflows, which traditionally served as primary on-ramps for new capital, have shown reduced momentum. Similarly, exchange-traded fund growth rates have moderated from their previous peaks, while other traditional entry vehicles demonstrate comparable slowing trends.
This evolving market structure suggests that current price movements and trading volumes are increasingly driven by existing market participants reallocating assets rather than fresh capital entering the ecosystem. Wintermute’s analysis provides crucial insights for institutional and retail investors seeking to navigate this new market paradigm, emphasizing the importance of understanding these structural shifts in liquidity flow for strategic positioning in digital asset markets.

