A consensus is forming around the dual strategy of "ETF + self-custody" for Bitcoin, accelerating the maturation of the market structure in 2025.

The Bitcoin market in 2025 is exhibiting an unprecedented “dual strategy” landscape: ETFs bring institutional liquidity, while self-custody preserves Bitcoin’s decentralized spirit. Industry analysts generally believe that this coexistence model is becoming the new mainstream trend, driving Bitcoin toward a more mature and structurally robust phase.

As Wall Street continues to expand the absorption capacity of spot Bitcoin ETFs, monthly capital inflows during 2024 to 2025 have repeatedly reached $4 billion to $6 billion, pushing total assets under management to about $140 billion by July 2025. ETFs have become the primary way for institutions to enter Bitcoin, offering strong liquidity, regulatory protection, and eligibility for retirement accounts, quickly making them the preferred choice for traditional financial investors.

Analyst Eric Balchunas points out that ETFs and exchange custody are essentially the same, both being outsourced custody. “ETFs are cheaper and safer,” he emphasizes. This view reflects that new investors are seeking regulation and convenience, and ETFs happen to meet this demand.

However, self-custody remains the core principle for long-term Bitcoin users. River’s Sam Wouters notes that Bitcoin on exchanges can be withdrawn at any time, while ETFs cannot do this. “The essence of Bitcoin is free transferability,” he states. For “Bitcoin maximalists,” self-custody symbolizes monetary sovereignty, while ETFs are more like highly controlled financial products.

Industry insiders are also proposing new compromises. Bitcoin investor Fred Krueger says, “The answer is both.” Users employ ETFs for convenience in their investment allocations while maintaining self-custody to safeguard control and freedom. This “dual-engine” approach is rapidly becoming market consensus.

With this structural shift, the Bitcoin ecosystem is also gradually stabilizing. Currently, corporate treasuries hold more than 1 million Bitcoins, already exceeding the reserves of major exchanges, providing a solid foundation for BTC’s continued growth. Data shows that in 2025, there have already been 171 days of Bitcoin price declines, and the market may be entering a more prolonged consolidation period, further strengthening BTC’s structural absorption effect.

ETFs provide channels for capital inflow and regulatory oversight, while self-custody safeguards Bitcoin’s core values. The two are not in conflict, but together maintain market stability and growth. Bitcoin is moving toward a “dual-track” future that can integrate with traditional finance while retaining its decentralized advantages. (AMBCrypto)