US: Bitcoin nears $100,000 as investors bet on crypto-friendly Trump policies

Bitcoin is nearing the $100,000 mark as crypto enthusiasts bet that United States President-elect Donald Trump will usher in a more welcoming regulatory environment for digital assets.

The world’s most popular digital currency rose as high as $99,073 on Thursday, extending its surge since Trump’s re-election on November 5.

The commodity has risen more than 60 percent since election day as investors anticipate Trump’s incoming administration to ease regulatory and legal hurdles to its use.

Trump, who called the asset a “scam” during his first term, accepted campaign donations in cryptocurrency, and has pledged to make the US “the crypto capital of the planet” and accumulate a national bitcoin reserve.

Trump and his three sons in September also announced the launch of their own crypto business, World Liberty Financial, which investors have taken as a promising sign of the president-elect’s belief in the sector.

In another bullish signal for the sector on Thursday, United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chair, Gary Gensler, who was widely disliked among crypto investors for his aggressive enforcement actions targeting the sector, confirmed that he would step down in January.

Trump had pledged to fire Gensler on “day one” of his administration, though the president does not have the authority to remove the SEC chair before the end of his or her term.

While viewed by supporters as a ticket to big returns and financial freedom, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are known for their volatility and have faced government crackdowns in several parts of the world.

After climbing to a record high of $69,000 in late 2021, Bitcoin plunged to less than $16,000 over the following year.

The commodity burst past its previous peak in March after gaining more than 300 percent since November 2022.

13 December 2024

CRYPTO: Regulators Warn Crypto Could Cause Another Financial Crisis

New government reports warn that the rise of crypto-related economic risks could trigger widespread financial disruption. As the cryptocurrency industry scored massive electoral wins in November and

Read More
20 January 2024

FINTECH: Global fintech investment plummeted 48% in 2023, according to new data by Innovate Finance

The total global investment flowing into fintech reached $51.2 billion in 2023, a 48% drop from the previous year’s figure of $99 billion, according to data from UK industry body Innovate Finance.

Read More
20 January 2024

CHINA: New CIETAC arbitration rules aim to improve ‘effectiveness and efficiency’

A new version of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) arbitration rules came into force on 1 January 2024. The update reflects best practice, taking account of

Read More
4 October 2024

FAMILY OFFICES: New White Paper Lifts The Lid On Family Offices’ Insider Security Threats

Threats to family offices from those who work within it, and other persons, need to be fully understood and prepared for, argues the author of this new report. Some of the most serious security threats

Read More