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Bitcoin Breaks $123K: How Regulation, ETFs And Institutions Are Driving A New Crypto Boom

Bitcoin Breaks $123K: How Regulation, ETFs And Institutions Are Driving A New Crypto Boom

Bitcoin shattered expectations today, surging past $123,000 for the first time ever, and positioning itself among the top five most valuable global assets. As reported by Associated Press , Bitcoin's market cap crossed $2.4 trillion , overtaking Amazon and placing it just behind Apple, Microsoft, Saudi Aramco, and Nvidia. This staggering rally comes amid a critical legislative moment in the U.S. House, where lawmakers have launched what's being dubbed "Crypto Week."
The House is reviewing three key bills—the CLARITY Act, GENIUS Act, and Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act—aimed at clarifying crypto regulations, limiting Federal Reserve powers over a digital dollar, and establishing legal frameworks for stablecoins. According to Business Insider, this is the most comprehensive crypto legislative effort ever presented in Congress, and it is widely seen as a catalyst for Bitcoin's dramatic momentum. Institutions Are Loading Up
Momentum isn't only coming from Capitol Hill. Institutional buying has accelerated, with Tokyo-based tech investment firm Metaplanet purchasing 797 more BTC at an average price of $117,450—an investment worth nearly $94 million. This brings its total Bitcoin holdings to more than 16,300 BTC, now valued at over $2 billion. As noted by CCN, Metaplanet has become Asia's MicroStrategy—a bellwether for corporate crypto conviction.
Meanwhile, institutional exposure is deepening across capital markets. The Czech National Bank reportedly took a stake in Coinbase, and several U.S.-listed companies—such as SharpLink and MicroStrategy—have expanded their crypto allocations. This institutional wave is supported by growing confidence in U.S. regulatory clarity and access to regulated investment vehicles. ETF Inflows Reach Record Levels
Spot Bitcoin ETFs are also fueling demand. Over $2.7 billion in net inflows were recorded last week alone, according to Investopedia, with BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust and Fidelity's Wise Origin Fund leading the pack. These products have dramatically simplified access to Bitcoin for institutional investors and pension funds, drawing in capital that was previously sidelined.
Crypto equities are also rallying in tandem. According to CoinDesk, Bitcoin mining stocks like Marathon Digital surged by over 9%, while Coinbase, Riot Platforms, and MicroStrategy saw gains between 3–6% during early Monday trading. Macro Trends Support the Climb
Bitcoin's rally is also buoyed by macroeconomic forces. The prospect of Federal Reserve rate cuts later this year has weakened the U.S. dollar, prompting a search for alternative stores of value. As highlighted by Barron's, a softening greenback is pushing capital into Bitcoin and gold, both viewed as inflation hedges. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index remains in "Greed" territory around 70, suggesting bullish momentum—but also heightened volatility. What's Next?
If any of the proposed bills pass during Crypto Week, it could mark a structural turning point in crypto's regulatory status, boosting confidence further. But risks remain: delays in legislation, adverse Fed decisions, or global regulatory setbacks could quickly cool sentiment.
Still, the alignment of policy, product access (ETFs), and institutional confidence suggests the current rally is more than speculative—it's foundational.
Bitcoin's new all-time high is not just another crypto bubble headline. It reflects a rare confluence of regulatory progress, capital market integration, and macroeconomic support. With Congress debating legislation that could shape digital assets for the next decade, and investors from Tokyo to Wall Street racing to secure positions, Bitcoin is no longer a fringe asset—it's a core geopolitical and financial force.
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"We Just Wanted to Spend Our Crypto": How CoinsBee Reached 500,000 Users by Solving a Real Problem
"We Just Wanted to Spend Our Crypto": How CoinsBee Reached 500,000 Users by Solving a Real Problem

Int'l Business Times

time13 hours ago

  • Int'l Business Times

"We Just Wanted to Spend Our Crypto": How CoinsBee Reached 500,000 Users by Solving a Real Problem

In 2019, Marius H. came across some Satoshis—not through speculation or investing, but as part of a side project exploring new payment technologies. It was a time when crypto was starting to gain traction, and he was curious to see how it might work in practice. What he found was surprising: the asset had grown in value. But using it in everyday life? That was another story. When he tried to spend it on something as simple as a Spotify subscription or a digital gift for a friend abroad, the process was far from seamless. "I believed in the idea behind Bitcoin," Marius recalls. "But turning that belief into practical use wasn't easy." That gap between promise and usability became the starting point for CoinsBee—the platform Marius co-founded to make crypto spendable for real-world needs. It began with a few brands and a simple idea. Today, CoinsBee is used by more than 500,000 people worldwide, many of whom were facing the same practical problem: What good is holding value if you cannot use it? From Friction to Function The early vision behind CoinsBee was simple: make crypto usable in everyday life. Not just as an investment vehicle or trading asset, but as something you could spend instantly on real-world needs. At the time, converting crypto into fiat—or trying to use it at a retail store—meant dealing with delays, compliance forms, or fees. Marius and his Co-Founder, Tobias, believed there had to be a more direct way. Their idea: build a platform where users could instantly exchange crypto for digital gift cards, prepaid services, and mobile top-ups, all delivered by email. No account creation, no KYC, no wait times. "We didn't start with a grand strategy," Marius says. "We started with a personal pain point. And we built the kind of product we wanted to use ourselves." That product quietly found traction. And four years later, it has become one of the most widely used crypto spending platforms in the world. Half a Million Users — and Counting CoinsBee recently surpassed 500,000 users, a milestone that reflects not only technical growth but a growing demand for real-world crypto utility. Unlike many app-based wallets or token-driven platforms, CoinsBee's users are not just casual signups—they are active crypto holders looking for ways to turn their digital assets into tangible value. "We noticed that a huge part of our audience was already deep into crypto," says Marius. "They weren't beginners. They held tokens. But even they struggled to use those assets for anything outside of trading or holding." That insight guided how the platform evolved. CoinsBee made it a priority to offer a wide range of brands and services—from mobile credit and grocery vouchers to gaming, streaming, electronics, and travel. Today, users can spend crypto on services in over 180 countries, with access to more than 5,000 brands, including global names like Amazon, Airbnb, Uber Eats, Netflix, Apple, and Vodafone. But for Marius, the product is less about brand count and more about removing friction. "What we offer is simple: crypto in, product out," he says. "No conversions, no lock-ins. Just access." A Platform Built by the Community It Serves One of the reasons CoinsBee grew without needing hype marketing campaigns, token launches, or venture capital was its resonance with real users—particularly in regions where access to stable banking or fiat offramps is limited. Over time, users from Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe began using CoinsBee not just to shop, but to move value across borders, send gifts to relatives, or even donate to global charities—all in crypto. The team responded by expanding its partnerships and integrations. 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US House Passes Landmark Crypto Measures In Win For Trump
US House Passes Landmark Crypto Measures In Win For Trump

Int'l Business Times

time18 hours ago

  • Int'l Business Times

US House Passes Landmark Crypto Measures In Win For Trump

The US House of Representatives on Thursday passed three landmark cryptocurrency bills, fulfilling the Trump administration's commitment to the once-controversial industry. Lawmakers easily approved the CLARITY Act, which aims to establish a clearer regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. The bill is designed to clarify industry rules and divide regulatory authority between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). It will now advance to the Senate, where Republicans hold a slim majority. House legislators also readily passed the GENIUS Act, which codifies the use of stablecoins -- cryptocurrencies pegged to stable assets like the US dollar or US bonds. This bill is expected to go directly to President Trump for his signature to become law. The Senate passed the GENIUS Act last month, and it sets requirements such as mandating that issuers hold reserves of assets equal in value to their outstanding cryptocurrency. "This historic legislation will bring our payment system into the 21st century. It will ensure the dominance of the US dollar. It will increase demand for US Treasuries," said Senator Bill Hagerty, the measure's sponsor in the Senate. This wave of legislation follows years of skepticism towards crypto, driven by the belief that the sector, born from bitcoin's success, should be tightly controlled and kept separate from mainstream investors. However, after crypto investors contributed millions of dollars to his presidential campaign last year, Trump reversed his previous doubts about the industry. He even launched a Trump meme coin and other ventures as he prepared for his return to the White House and hosted a gala dinner for the coin's top buyers once he was in office. And according to the Financial Times, Trump is now preparing to open the $9 trillion US retirement market to cryptocurrency investments as well as gold, and private equity. Notably, both the CLARITY Act and the GENIUS Act garnered significant bipartisan support, with Democrats also having seen an increase in lobbying and contributions from the crypto industry. "It's critically important we bring more certainty to the marketplace with clear rules of the road," said congressman Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat who supported the bills. Since taking office, Trump has made several moves to support the crypto sector, including appointing crypto advocate Paul Atkins to lead the SEC. He also established a federal "Strategic Bitcoin Reserve" to audit the government's bitcoin holdings, primarily accumulated through law enforcement's judicial seizures. Forbes magazine estimates that the president's foray into the crypto business has doubled his wealth to $5.3 billion in just one year. In a largely partisan vote, the Republican-led House also passed the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act. It aims to block the issuance of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) -- a digital dollar issued by the US Federal Reserve -- even if there currently are no plans for such an endeavor. Republicans argue that a CBDC could enable the federal government to monitor, track, and potentially control private citizens' financial transactions, thereby undermining privacy and civil liberties. Passage of this measure in the Senate is far from guaranteed before it can go to the president's desk. An earlier attempt to set aside the anti-CBDC bill caused a significant stir among a small group of Republicans and delayed passage of the other two bills until eleventh-hour lobbying by Trump helped resolve the issue.

House Crypto Vote Breaks Records as GENIUS Act Inches Closer to Trump's Desk
House Crypto Vote Breaks Records as GENIUS Act Inches Closer to Trump's Desk

Int'l Business Times

timea day ago

  • Int'l Business Times

House Crypto Vote Breaks Records as GENIUS Act Inches Closer to Trump's Desk

In what's now officially the longest vote in the history of the U.S. House of Representatives, lawmakers stalled for over seven hours and 24 minutes Wednesday night over a cryptocurrency rule vote that nearly imploded under GOP infighting. At stake: a trio of major crypto bills, led by the controversial GENIUS Act, which would mandate that all stablecoins be backed 1:1 with verifiable reserves. For a moment, the entire U.S. crypto legislative agenda teetered on the edge, and with it, the current crypto bull run. Speaker Johnson Scrambles as GOP Divides Over Stablecoin Rules Ten Republican holdouts refused to back the rule package, forcing Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) into hours of behind-the-scenes negotiations to keep the agenda intact. The rebellion included Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), along with House Financial Services Vice Chair Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), whose initial "no" vote sent shockwaves through GOP leadership. "This is about more than crypto. It's about whether the House always has to bow to the Senate," – Senior Republican aide to FOX News Despite the chaos, the GENIUS Act ultimately passed and is now heading toward President Donald Trump, who has already pledged to sign it into law. But for markets, the bigger prize remains the CLARITY Act, a bill that would provide comprehensive legal guardrails for digital assets and institutional crypto adoption. If the CLARITY Act doesn't pass soon, many analysts believe it could halt the momentum behind the current bull market, especially with institutional capital sitting on the sidelines. Bitcoin Hyper Emerges as the Sleeper Winner of Crypto Week While Washington stalls, the market isn't waiting. Bitcoin Hyper, a new memecoin with real utility, just passed $3 million raised in its presale, with interest surging as confidence builds around upcoming legislation. Built on Solana, Bitcoin Hyper aims to bridge Bitcoin's security with Solana's speed using zero-knowledge proof technology. The project wraps BTC, enabling users to stake, swap, launch tokens, and build dApps all while keeping BTC locked on-chain. At its current price of $0.012275, investors still have a limited window to enter before the next presale tier triggers. "It's moving faster than half the chains claiming 'Layer-2,'" – Bitcoin Hyper development team Early supporters can participate through ETH, USDT, BNB, or card, with staking rewards up to 320% APY available to those looking to earn while waiting for price discovery. Bitcoin Hyper is already being featured inside Best Wallet's Upcoming Tokens tab, and the Telegram/X communities are growing by the hour as eyes shift toward potential post-CLARITY Act breakouts. Whether or not the House clears the full crypto legislative package in time, the energy on the ground — and in the memecoin market — is already moving.

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