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Bitcoin hits record high above $111,000 as ETF inflows, regulatory clarity fuel rally

Economic Times22-05-2025

Bitcoin surged past the $111,000 mark on Thursday, hitting an all-time high of $111,861, before easing slightly to trade at $111,368 as of 11:08 AM IST, up 3.5% on the day.
ADVERTISEMENT Ethereum also gained 1.8% to $2,634, as the broader crypto market cap rose 3.1% to $3.5 trillion.
The rally was fueled by growing optimism around regulatory clarity in the US, following the advancement of a key stablecoin bill in the Senate. The continued accumulation of Bitcoin by institutional players — including Michael Saylor's firm, which now holds over $50 billion in BTC — further supported market sentiment.
'Bitcoin created another milestone, hitting a new all-time high over $111,000, gaining over 48% from recent lows,' said Edul Patel, Co-founder and CEO of Mudrex. He attributed the rally to 'geopolitical de-escalation, an improved regulatory environment, and macro tailwinds,' including the approval of the Stablecoin Bill and easing trade restrictions.Spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen $2.2 billion in inflows over the past 10 sessions, Patel noted, adding that retail participation is also on the rise, bringing fresh liquidity to the market.
Ashish Singhal, Co-founder of CoinSwitch, said Bitcoin's surge 'isn't just a milestone for the market—it's a reflection of how the global perception of digital assets is fundamentally evolving.' He highlighted consistent ETF inflows, policy-level recognition in the US, and improving macro clarity as key drivers of the rally.
ADVERTISEMENT According to Ryan Lee, Chief Analyst at Bitget Research, Bitcoin's chart is showing signs of a golden cross formation — a bullish technical indicator — similar to patterns seen ahead of late 2024's breakout. Lee said BTC's resilience above $103,000 despite recent volatility signals a shift toward crypto as a 'strategic reserve asset.'Lee projects Bitcoin could reach $180,000 by year-end, citing supply constraints post-halving, institutional adoption, and Moody's recent downgrade of the US credit rating as macro catalysts boosting demand for digital assets.
ADVERTISEMENT Altcoins also moved higher, with Avalanche rising 5.3%, Sui 4.3%, Cardano 4%, Dogecoin and Solana 3.5% each, BNB 3.3%, and XRP 1.4%. Bitcoin's market cap rose to $2.212 trillion, commanding a 63.2% share of the total crypto market. Daily trading volumes jumped 76% to $90.08 billion.Bitcoin's milestone coincides with US President Donald Trump hosting a dinner with top holders of his memecoin at his golf club near Washington. The event has sparked criticism from ethics experts, who argue it blurs the line between political access and personal financial gain.
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(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)
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