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.

8 November 2024

PORTUGAL: Portugal adopts Pillar Two rules

Portugal has now implemented the EU Minimum Tax Directive, introducing into domestic legislation a global minimum tax of 15% for large-scale multinational and domestic groups.The legislation includes

Read More
20 January 2024

FINTECH: Crypto industry bats for tax reductions, regulatory tightening of offshore exchanges

Letters sent out to the finance ministry last month by Bharat Web3 Association and CoinDCX highlighted concerns over the 30 percent VDA tax burdening small Web3 and crypto businesses and the need for

Read More
14 February 2024

FAMILY OFFICES: Family Offices to Allocate More to Alternatives in 2024

KKR, a leading global investment firm, released “Loud and Clear,” a new Insights piece by Henry McVey, CIO of KKR’s Balance Sheet and Head of Global Macro and Asset Allocation (GMAA). Based on

Read More
4 October 2024

CARIBBEAN: Caribbean Countries establish Interim Regulatory Commission for Citizenship by Investment Programmes

The Caribbean countries that offer Citizenship by Investment Programmes (CIP/CBI) have taken a practical step towards the establishment of a regional regulator by appointing an Interim Regulatory Commission

Read More