Analyzing Litecoin’s Bitwise ETF inclusion as whales quietly step up

Litecoin (LTC) has secured a place inside a regulated investment product after its recent inclusion in the Bitwise 10 Crypto Index ETF (BITW). The Index ETF began trading on NYSE Arca on 9 December 2025.

While Litecoin’s allocation in the fund remains relatively small, commanding just 0.26% of the large share, the inclusion places LTC alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum inside an index-based ETF structure.

For an asset like Litecoin, this represents a shift in positioning rather than an immediate market demand shock.

Litecoin ETF inclusion brings credibility, not instant volume

BITW tracks the top cryptocurrencies by screened market capitalization. Litecoin’s inclusion signals a recognition rather than dominance, especially as Bitcoin and Ethereum continue to command the majority of the fund’s weight.

In fact, Bitcoin commands the largest share with 74%, with the same closely followed by ETH with 15% of the Index ETF.

So far, the ETF-related development has not translated into aggressive spot activity. For example – Litecoin’s spot trading volume dropped by nearly 30%, falling to around $189 million. This suggested that short-term traders have remained cautious, despite the headlines.

Whales accumulate as spot activity cools

Despite the spot volume cooling down, on-chain behaviour did hint at long-term bullish bias. Whale orders have increased noticeably, pointing to accumulation at press time price levels, rather than distribution.

Such a divergence often reflects a shift in market structure. At the time of writing, retail participation appeared muted, but longer-term players might just be comfortable building positions quietly.

At the same time, buyers have started to gain dominance too, hinting at a fall in sell-side pressure. This was evidenced by Litecoin’s Cumulative Volume Delta at press time. 

If the momentum persists, the negative spot volume inflows could be countered.

A long-term positioning play?

Litecoin’s ETF inclusion looks more like a structural milestone set for long-term gains. With LTC now being a part of a regulated index product, the asset’s institutional visibility and legitimacy may be set for an improvement. Even if immediate price reactions remain limited.

In light of shrinking spot liquidity and surging whales’ activity, Litecoin may be entering a consolidation phase where positioning matters more than momentum. Whether this evolves into a broader trend will likely depend on the demand for sustainability.

On the daily charts, the altcoin has been consolidating. Litecoin’s price, at the time of writing, was still trading below the 20-day Exponential Moving Average at $83.81. This might be a cautious bearish signal, until the buying pressure supersedes the prevailing bearish run.

Final Thoughts

• Litecoin’s inclusion in BITW strengthens its institutional profile, despite short-term spot activity cooling down.
• Rising whale accumulation might be indicative of long-term positioning, despite muted retail participation.