Data shows that hedge funds shorted Ethereum on CME and began basis arbitrage operations

Odaily News The latest data from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) shows that hedge funds are shorting Ethereum positions worth a total of US$1.73 billion on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), and leveraged net positions show a significant short bias.
This operation is considered a typical basis arbitrage strategy, where traders buy spot ETFs while shorting ETH contracts on CME to achieve Delta neutrality and obtain an annualized return of about 9.5%. In addition, if traders choose to buy spot ETH and pledge it, they can also obtain an additional annualized return of about 3.5%.
However, it is worth noting that the current Ethereum spot ETF does not support the staking function and cannot realize additional income. Overall, this type of arbitrage strategy has attracted a lot of institutional attention in the context of the total assets under management of spot ETFs reaching approximately US$12 billion. (CoinDesk)