Kategorie: Bitcoin News

Bitcoin surged to an unprecedented high on Thursday, breaching the $111,000 mark for the first time as a confluence of factors, including growing institutional demand and positive regulatory signals from the US, fueled a wave of bullish sentiment across the cryptocurrency market.

The world’s original cryptocurrency climbed as much as 3.3% on Thursday to achieve a new record of $111,878, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

This landmark achievement was not isolated, as smaller tokens also caught the updraft; second-ranked Ether, for instance, was up approximately 5.5% at one point during the rally.

A significant undercurrent of optimism is currently buoying Bitcoin.

This has been notably stoked by the recent advancement of a key stablecoin bill in the US Senate, a development that has kindled hopes for greater regulatory clarity for digital-asset firms under President Donald Trump, who has expressed a generally pro-crypto stance.

Alongside these regulatory tailwinds, surging demand from prominent institutional players is acting as a powerful driving force.

Michael Saylor’s MicroStrategy, which has famously stockpiled over $50 billion worth of Bitcoin, leads a growing cohort of entities actively accumulating the token.

“It has been a slow motion grind into new all-time highs,” observed Joshua Lim, global co-head of markets at FalconX Ltd.

There’s no shortage of demand for BTC from SPAC and PIPE deals, which is manifesting in the premium on Coinbase spot prices.

This demand is being met by a diverse group of buyers, including a flurry of lesser-known small-cap companies and newly established public firms led by crypto industry heavyweights, who are financing their Bitcoin acquisitions through various means, from convertible bonds to preferred stocks.

Illustrating this trend, an affiliate of Cantor Fitzgerald LP is reportedly collaborating with stablecoin issuer Tether Holdings SA and SoftBank Group to launch Twenty One Capital Inc., a company designed to emulate MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin-centric business model.

Separately, a subsidiary of Strive Enterprises Inc., co-founded by Vivek Ramaswamy, is in the process of merging with Nasdaq-listed Asset Entities Inc. to form a dedicated Bitcoin treasury company.

Beyond momentum: quantifiable demand fuels rally

Market experts emphasize that the current rally is not solely based on speculative momentum.

“Unlike previous cycles, this rally is not momentum-driven alone,” stated Julia Zhou, COO of crypto market maker Caladan.

It is quantitatively underpinned by measurable, persistent demand and supply dislocations.

This suggests a more fundamentally sound basis for the ongoing price appreciation.

Interestingly, Bitcoin’s outperformance relative to smaller cryptocurrencies, often referred to as altcoins, is widening.

An index tracking these alternative tokens is down approximately 40% year-to-date, while Bitcoin itself has registered a 17% gain so far in 2025, highlighting a flight to perceived quality within the digital asset space.

Activity in the options markets further underscores the bullish sentiment.

Earlier this week, traders built significant Bitcoin positions, with call options at strike prices of $110,000, $120,000, and even an ambitious $300,000, all expiring on June 27, logging the highest open interest (number of outstanding contracts) on the derivatives exchange Deribit.

This activity points to strong expectations of further upside.

Tony Sycamore, a market analyst at IG, remarked in a note that the fresh record high demonstrates that Bitcoin’s sharp decline from a previous peak set on January 20 (to below $75,000 in April) was merely “a correction within a bull market.”

He added, “A sustained break above $110,000 is needed to trigger the next leg higher towards $125,000.”

Political intersections and market perceptions

Bitcoin’s latest milestone coincides with President Trump preparing to meet with major holders of his memecoin at a dinner event at his golf club near Washington on Thursday.

This event has drawn scrutiny from ethics experts, who argue it offers privileged access through transactions that directly benefit the president, thereby sparking criticism over potential conflicts of interest.

While such events contribute to crypto’s growing mainstream presence, their direct market impact is debated.

Yuan Rong Tan, a trader at QCP Capital, commented that such events “highlight crypto’s increasing cultural visibility, though they have not had a measurable impact on market dynamics at this stage.”

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• Bitcoin hit a new all-time high above$109,000 on May 21, 2025.
• The milestone saw 100% of BTC holders fall into profit.
• Bitcoin also surpassed Amazon in terms of market cap

Bitcoin price has just surged to a new all-time high above $109k.

On May 21, 2025, the price of Bitcoin spiked more than 4%, storming past its previous ATH as optimism swept bears aside.

Over $50 million worth of BTC shorts were liquidated in just an hour.

100% of Bitcoin holders are in profit

This latest Bitcoin price surge sent every other holder of the coin into a profitable position.

According to data from Sentora, formerly IntoTheBlock, 100% of Bitcoin addresses were in the money amid the massive milestone.

With Bitcoin (BTC) price retesting the $109k level, holders underwater declined to zero. Also at 0% were addresses with the money, meaning wallets whose average buy price was at or near the previous ATH.

Sentora had earlier shared via X on May 21, 2025, that BTC holders were 99% in profit as the price crossed the $107k level.

A lot of those celebrating the new ATH are hodlers who have held BTC for more than a year. The percentage count according to Sentora data is 75%. More than 21% have held Bitcoin for 1-12 months.

Notably, when Bitcoin price fell to under $80k in April, new holder wallets were among those to aggressively offload.

Analyst says BTC could hit $600k in 2025

On May 21, as Bitcoin price surged towards its all-time high above $109k, Fred Krueger shared his staggering Bitcoin price prediction for 2025.

According to the BTC bull, the top crypto could see its price hit $600k by October 2025. While this may be an overly bullish take, his forecast is that a run to $150k by the summer will provide the impetus for a new parabolic leg up.

Once we escape past 110K, there is no more friction.
Its a smooth ride to 150k.

„Ground Control to Major Tom“

— Fred Krueger (@dotkrueger) May 21, 2025

Saylor says it’s time to buy BTC

As Bitcoin rose to its new ATH, Michael Saylor, founder of Strategy, said Bitcoin is still a buy despite the rally.

In a post on X, Saylor noted that not acquiring BTC at current price levels is “leaving money on the table.”

Earlier, in late April, the MicroStrategy founder noted that soon banks and global financial institutions will soon make Bitcoin “unaffordable” to the regular investor.

The remarks mirror numerous predictions that see BTC at $200k in 2025 and $1 million in the next few years.

Bitcoin surpasses Amazon by market cap

In the past 24 hours, the benchmark crypto has also notched another milestone – its market cap has surpassed that of Amazon.

JUST IN: Bitcoin overtakes Amazon and Google to become the 5th biggest asset in the world. pic.twitter.com/dYqKvTTAEK

— Bitcoin Archive (@BTC_Archive) May 21, 2025

According to details on CompaniesMarketCap, Bitcoin’s spike above $109k sees it overtake Amazon, the leading e-commerce company listed in the U.S.

While Amazon currently sits at a $2.157 trillion market cap, Bitcoin has increased to over 2.166 trillion.

 

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• 50 million Americans now own Bitcoin, surpassing 37 million gold holders.
• US firms hold 94.8% of publicly traded companies’ Bitcoin reserves.
• US leads globally with 40% of all Bitcoin companies headquartered domestically.

Bitcoin has officially outpaced gold in US ownership, marking a significant pivot in the country’s investment landscape.

According to a new report released on 20 May by Bitcoin investment firm River, roughly 50 million Americans now own Bitcoin, compared to 37 million who own gold.

This data underscores the rise of Bitcoin as a preferred store of value, reshaping traditional notions of economic security and reserve asset status.

As Bitcoin ownership expands, it’s increasingly seen not just as a speculative instrument, but as a fundamental part of US financial infrastructure.

US leads in global Bitcoin adoption and infrastructure

The River report notes that the United States is the global leader in Bitcoin adoption, with 40 percent of all Bitcoin-related companies headquartered in the country.

American firms also hold 94.8 percent of all Bitcoin owned by publicly traded companies worldwide, reflecting significant institutional backing.

This dominance is supported by a robust ecosystem comprising crypto-focused startups, spot ETF launches, and policies promoting digital asset development.

Regulatory momentum in Washington has further strengthened Bitcoin’s foundation in the financial system. Recent discussions around treating Bitcoin as a potential strategic reserve asset suggest growing political acceptance.

Several politicians have floated the idea of the US government maintaining a Bitcoin reserve, signalling institutional confidence amid rising concerns over the US dollar’s long-term stability.

Strategic demand rises amid economic uncertainty

The shift toward Bitcoin is occurring alongside broader macroeconomic concerns. Moody’s recent downgrade of the US credit rating—ending over a century of top-tier ratings—has reinforced the appeal of decentralised alternatives.

Investors increasingly view Bitcoin as a hedge against fiscal instability and inflation, particularly given its fixed supply and decentralised governance model.

Bitcoin also offers practical advantages over gold in the digital age. The ease of storage, cross-border transfer, and liquidity make it an attractive option for both individual and institutional investors.

This is particularly relevant in an era where digital finance is becoming the norm and where traditional safe-haven assets like gold face logistical and accessibility limitations.

Rising ownership brings attention to volatility risks

While Bitcoin is gaining legitimacy as a reserve asset, it remains a volatile asset class. Unlike gold, which has maintained relatively steady valuations over time, Bitcoin has experienced frequent price swings—something that may deter more risk-averse investors.

Nonetheless, the market appears to be increasingly tolerant of this volatility, especially as long-term returns continue to outperform traditional assets.

Institutional support also plays a key role in this shift. Major asset managers such as BlackRock are incorporating Bitcoin into their portfolios, further validating its status.

Meanwhile, crypto ETFs and custodial services are helping to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the digital asset space, making it easier for Americans to gain exposure to Bitcoin without navigating complex self-custody solutions.

As Bitcoin ownership grows, it reflects not just a shift in preference, but a broader transformation in how Americans perceive financial security and resilience.

The trend is still developing, but the numbers now place Bitcoin squarely ahead of gold—at least in terms of how many Americans are betting on it.

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• As May 22 approaches, the crypto community is gearing up to celebrate the 15th anniversary of this legendary transaction—the first time someone verifiably used BTC to buy something in the real world.
• It sounds almost like a joke now—10,000 BTC for two Papa John’s pizzas.
• It proved that this weird internet money could do something tangible.

Think about the wildest online purchase story you’ve ever heard. Does it involve spending what’s now hundreds of millions of dollars on a couple of pizzas?

Probably not, unless you’re familiar with Bitcoin Pizza Day.

As May 22 approaches, the crypto community is gearing up to celebrate the 15th anniversary of this legendary transaction—the first time someone verifiably used BTC to buy something in the real world.

It sounds almost like a joke now—10,000 BTC for two Papa John’s pizzas.

But back in 2010, it was a groundbreaking moment. It proved that this weird internet money could actually do something tangible.

Fifteen years later, Bitcoin Pizza Day isn’t just a quirky footnote; it’s a yearly reminder of how far cryptocurrencies have come, evolving from a niche experiment into tools with real-world utility for people all over the globe.

“From two pizzas to a global financial movement, crypto’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary—and our community has been the driving force behind it,” said Rachel Conlan, Chief Marketing Officer at Binance.

“This year, we’re marking Bitcoin Pizza Day with the biggest BTC referral giveaway in history—$5 million worth—alongside over 28 local meetups and social activations. It’s our way of honoring how far we’ve come while inviting millions more into the crypto world.”

Bitcoin Pizza Day stories demonstrating real-world crypto utility

To mark the occasion, the crypto exchange Binance recently asked its users to share how crypto has actually been useful in their own lives.

Forget the memes for a second; these stories paint a picture of cryptocurrencies solving everyday problems and creating meaningful moments, showing the practical side that Bitcoin Pizza Day first hinted at.

Take Andy from Vietnam, for example. He ran into a common travel snag in Malaysia: needing to pay a rental deposit without a local bank account.

His plan B was crypto. “I turned to crypto and planned to use Binance to make the payment,” he shared.

As it turned out, the host ended up waiving the fee because Andy promised to take good care of the place.

“While the payment was never completed,” Andy reflected, “it was still a perfect example of how versatile crypto can be in real-life situations!”

Codi, based in Dubai, shared a story about using digital assets for better value while traveling. “In 2023, I paid for a delicious Turkish kebab with USDT while visiting Turkey,” she said.

“It was incredibly convenient, and the exchange rate was much better than what my Dubai bank offered.”

For Codi, using cryptocurrency wasn’t just novel; it made the trip easier and more economical.

“Having crypto as a payment option made the whole trip feel smoother and more flexible—true worry-free travel.”

It’s not always about convenience or necessity, though; sometimes it’s about sentiment.

Mina from Algeria used her first crypto salary, earned when BNB was around $200, for a special purchase.

Thinking back, she said, “The first thing I ever bought with crypto wasn’t pizza—it was my mom’s favorite perfume. There’s something special about using crypto for something you love; it felt exciting, satisfying, and like I was part of something bigger.” She used Binance for the fast, seamless payment, adding, “My only regret? Not starting sooner!”

And then there’s Jimmy from Canada, whose story highlights how early adoption, even accidental, could turn out. Back in late 2012, when Bitcoin was just $13, he needed some BTC not for investment, but necessity.

“I just needed it to buy a textbook on compilers from an online seller who insisted on Bitcoin payment,” he explained. “I bought five whole Bitcoins on Coinbase, used a few to pay for the book, and forgot about the rest.”

It wasn’t until years later, after joining Binance, that he remembered the old account. “It sat untouched for years, and I became an accidental HODLer.”

These stories, from travel fixes to heartfelt gifts and forgotten digital wallets, show crypto’s utility extending far beyond just trading charts.

Why Bitcoin Pizza Day matters for the crypto industry

So, why all the fuss about two pizzas bought 15 years ago? Because that single transaction, initiated by programmer Laszlo Hanyecz on the BitcoinTalk forum, was the moment Bitcoin stepped out of the purely digital realm.

On May 22, 2010, after offering 10,000 BTC for pizza delivery, a fellow enthusiast named Jeremy Sturdivant took him up on it, ordering the pizzas and receiving the Bitcoin.

At the time, those 10,000 BTC were worth maybe $41. Today? Over $970 million!

But the astronomical Bitcoin price difference isn’t the main point. The real significance is that it demonstrated utility. Suddenly, Bitcoin wasn’t just lines of code anymore.

That pizza deal proved it could operate as the peer-to-peer (P2P) electronic cash system Satoshi Nakamoto had described in the original whitepaper.

It served as the first real test case for using crypto to buy actual things, and it definitely got people talking about whether it could catch on and how easy it was to use.

The story also offers a fascinating snapshot of crypto’s early days. Hanyecz, an early miner, reportedly earned his coins when mining rewards were 50 BTC per block.

This means those 10,000 BTC represented validating just 200 blocks, a feat achievable on a regular computer back then.

Contrast that with today’s massive, ASIC-powered mining operations. Sturdivant, the recipient, didn’t “HODL” his way to riches; he reportedly used the BTC for travel and games, reflecting the experimental, currency-like view of Bitcoin at the time.

Bitcoin Pizza Day, which only really gained traction around 2014 as Bitcoin’s price and public awareness grew, serves as an annual benchmark. It reminds the community of crypto’s humble origins and its incredible journey.

It’s a celebration of innovation, a nod to the early believers, and a prompt to keep working on making crypto more accessible and user-friendly—to fulfill the potential that first slice represented.

Hanyecz himself, who later bought pizza again using the Lightning Network in 2018, doesn’t seem to regret it, proud of his role in Bitcoin history.

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• AAVE has broken past $260 amid a 90% monthly gain and surging DeFi TVL.
• Bitcoin Pepe has secured key deals ahead of its May 31 CEX listing.
• Bitcoin Pepe (BPEP) is currently in its last token presale stage and it has seen a 71% price surge.

AAVE has extended its bullish streak, gaining over 21% in the past 24 hours, while Bitcoin Pepe is drawing attention with strategic moves ahead of its much-anticipated May 31 listing.

Both assets are riding separate but equally compelling narratives, one driven by surging TVL and renewed DeFi momentum and the other driven by meme coin culture and ecosystem expansion.

With crypto investors eager to rotate capital into tokens showing strong community support and developer activity, both AAVE and Bitcoin Pepe are enjoying breakout moments in a market hungry for upside catalysts.

AAVE powers past $260 as DeFi optimism intensifies

At press time, AAVE was trading at $265.60, its highest level in over a year, propelled by a 90% rally in the past 30 days and a staggering 207.6% gain over the last year.

Momentum is firmly on the side of bulls as AAVE’s 24-hour trading volume nears $884 million, signalling strong demand and sustained price discovery above previous resistance levels.

In addition, the protocol’s total value locked (TVL) has soared to over $40.49 billion, underscoring growing confidence in Aave’s lending infrastructure and its relevance in the broader DeFi ecosystem.

This spike in TVL not only reflects increased user deposits but also signals growing institutional trust in permissionless, decentralised borrowing and lending platforms.

Technically, AAVE has broken through a stubborn resistance at around $250–$262, invalidating prior local tops and opening the door to a possible retest of the $300 psychological level.

On-balance volume has also turned sharply upward, suggesting that buyers are absorbing sell pressure and accumulating in anticipation of further upside.

Additionally, the 24-hour price range of $218.49 to $269.13 shows heightened volatility but confirms that higher lows continue to form, a classic hallmark of bullish structure.

With a market cap now exceeding $4 billion and circulating supply nearing 15.1 million tokens, AAVE appears to be gaining both retail and institutional traction.

Many traders are now watching for potential retracements to the $210–$220 zone, which could act as new support should a short-term correction occur.

Given its strong fundamentals, technical breakout, and rapidly climbing TVL, AAVE is now positioned as a flagship asset for DeFi resurgence narratives this quarter.

Bitcoin Pepe locks in strategic partnerships as May 31 listing approaches

While AAVE makes headlines for price action, Bitcoin Pepe (BPEP) is fueling its own rally through ecosystem expansion and strategic brand positioning ahead of its centralised exchange debut.

Built on a new token standard dubbed the PEP-20 token standard, Bitcoin Pepe is marketing itself as the “Solana of Bitcoin,” promising a Layer-2 experience native to the world’s most secure blockchain.

Ahead of its May 31 listing as its token presale comes to an end, Bitcoin Pepe has announced a string of high-profile partnerships with the likes of Catamoto, Super Meme, Plena Finance, GETE Network, Crypto Hunters and BETV, aimed at accelerating adoption and enhancing token utility.

With strong emphasis on staking incentives and interoperability, the project is creating buzz among early adopters and meme coin enthusiasts looking for more than just hype.

Currently in the last presale stage, Bitcoin Pepe’s token, BPEP, has seen a 71% price surge, with projections of an explosion post-listing buoyed by its innovative approach to memecoins.

Bitcoin Pepe’s roadmap signals a robust ecosystem growth, including plans for bridge infrastructure, PEP-20 DEX listings, and NFT integrations that tap into Bitcoin’s Ordinals movement.

Developers are also rolling out native tools to simplify onboarding, enabling software engineers and crypto-native users to interact with PEP-20 tokens through wallet extensions and SDKs.

This strategic positioning has helped Bitcoin Pepe carve out a niche in the crowded meme coin market by offering substance alongside viral branding.

With just days to go before its major listing, the token’s growing community and tech-forward narrative are converging into a potential breakout moment.

Given the current appetite for meme projects with real use cases, Bitcoin Pepe is increasingly being seen as more than just another speculative token.

If momentum sustains through listing day, BPEP could emerge as one of the few meme coins to successfully transition into infrastructure relevance on Bitcoin.

In a market now rewarding both utility and storytelling, Bitcoin Pepe’s rise comes at a time when narrative-driven investing is back in full force.

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