Bitcoin Trumps $72, 000: Politics and Inflation Boost Crypto

Bitcoin has hit a new high, soaring over $72, 000—a benchmark it hasn’t seen since spring. This surge comes as investors consider upcoming elections and inflation fears. The world's most valuable cryptocurrency, with a market value of over $1. 4 trillion, has shot up by about 6% on Tuesday. In simple terms, bitcoin's value jumped to around $72, 338 at noon EDT (4 p. m. GMT). That’s the highest it’s been since April 8. This month, bitcoin has climbed by 12%, leaving the S&P 500's 1% gain in the dust. Other digital currencies like ethereum, binance coin, and solana also rose in value on Tuesday. Companies involved in bitcoin mining, such as Core Scientific, Marathon Digital, and Riot Platforms, saw their stock prices soar as well.What’s driving bitcoin’s surge? Several factors are at play. Hedge fund billionaire Paul Tudor Jones sees bitcoin as a shield against inflation. The U. S. presidential election is just around the corner, and candidates like Donald Trump are pushing for pro-bitcoin policies. The Federal Reserve’s recent interest rate cuts have some worried about the future of monetary policy. Meanwhile, gold, a traditional safe haven asset, has also seen its prices spike since mid-September. Bitcoin’s rise coincides with increased betting on a Trump victory. Earlier a bitcoin skeptic, Trump is now positioning himself as a crypto-friendly candidate. There's also the influence of spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), approved by U. S. regulators in January, which have drawn billions from institutional investors. Looking back, bitcoin reached its peak at $73, 750 in March and has since recovered from its low point in late 2022, a period known as the “crypto winter. ” This was a tough time for the industry, with high-profile bankruptcies like that of the FTX exchange.