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Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bitcoin Hits Record $123,000 as U.S. Policy Momentum Fuels Rally
Bitcoin (BTC-USD) reached a record high of $123,153 on Monday as investors looked ahead to a potential breakthrough in U.S. cryptocurrency legislation. The rally, which pushed the worlds largest digital asset up 30% year to date, was fueled by optimism that Congress will advance long-awaited bills during what Republican lawmakers have called crypto week. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Signs with WPP. The cryptocurrency later pulled back to trade around $119,745 but remained higher on the day. Market participants are closely watching developments in Washington, where the House of Representatives is expected to vote on a trio of crypto-focused bills: the Genius Act, the Clarity Act, and the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act. Among them, the Genius Act would establish a federal framework for stablecoinssomething crypto advocates have sought for years. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has declared himself the crypto president, has voiced support for policies that favor the digital asset sector. His administrations backing has added momentum to the rally, which analysts say is now being driven by a combination of institutional inflows, regulatory optimism, and favorable political narratives. Despite rising geopolitical risks and broader market unease driven by trade policy uncertainty, bitcoins surge has stood out. Some analysts, including eToros Simon Peters, point to dollar weakness as another factor contributing to bitcoins USD-denominated breakout, noting that the asset hasnt hit all-time highs in euro terms. Bitcoins climb continues to underline its role as both a speculative vehicle and a policy-sensitive asset class; this weeks developments in Washington could determine whether the rally continues or runs out of steam. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Al Bawaba
5 days ago
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Bitcoin Eyes New Heights Amid Growing Institutional Demand and Regulatory Momentum
Bitcoin set a new all-time high yesterday and continues to test the $112,000 resistance level today, signaling the possibility of a major breakout. According to Simon Peters, crypto analyst at eToro, the long-term outlook remains bullish as multiple factors continue to support the upward trend.'Ultimately, the price should continue to climb over the long term,' said Peters. 'Bitcoin is behaving in line with the widely held narrative — as a hedge against monetary debasement — especially as central banks maintain expansive monetary policies, government borrowing continues, and global money supply rises.'The increasing demand for bitcoin, particularly from institutional investors, is further fueling its price momentum. Public and private companies, institutional funds, and ETFs now hold approximately 3.5 million BTC, representing around 17% of the total fixed supply of 21 million — a significant rise from 2.6 million BTC just one year the crypto sector is gaining stronger political and regulatory backing. The U.S. is entering what's being dubbed as 'Crypto Week', during which the House of Representatives is expected to deliberate on three landmark pieces of legislation. If passed, these bills would further legitimize the industry and lay a stronger foundation for future the positive outlook, Peters advises caution. 'While optimism is high, the potential for short-term pullbacks remains. Investors should assess their time horizon and risk tolerance before entering the market,' he said. 'A strategy like dollar-cost averaging — investing a fixed amount regularly — may help reduce timing risk and lower the average cost of investment over time.' As bitcoin continues to gain credibility and adoption, the current environment offers a potentially compelling opportunity — but as always, prudent risk management remains key.
Al Bawaba
08-07-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Bitcoin Briefly Touches $110,000 as Key Policy and Economic Developments Take Center Stage
Bitcoin briefly surged to $110,000 last week following a stronger-than-expected U.S. non-farm payrolls report, before pulling back slightly, according to Simon Peters, crypto market analyst at the milestone, overall weekly gains across the crypto market remained modest, with major altcoins such as Ethereum, XRP, and Solana showing minimal movement. However, upcoming political and economic developments may set the stage for greater market volatility in the days ahead.'With U.S. markets returning from the Independence Day holiday, all eyes are on the fallout from the passing of former President Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill', which is forecast by the Congressional Budget Office to add $3.4 trillion to federal deficits over the next decade,' said Peters. 'The prospect of increasing U.S. government debt could drive investor interest in bitcoin, as investors seek a hedge against long-term currency debasement.'Adding to the potential volatility is the looming expiration of the 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs, set for July 9. The outcome of ongoing trade negotiations between the U.S. and its key global partners may significantly impact market sentiment.'Should new trade deals be reached before the deadline, we could see a further lift in crypto prices. On the other hand, a breakdown in negotiations could trigger a market sell-off,' Peters eToro also marks the one-year anniversary of Moo Deng, its Southeast Asia crypto education and community-building initiative, underscoring the platform's commitment to building a more informed investor base across global MOVERSSolana memecoin $MOODENG was one of the biggest movers last week in the build up to Moo Deng's, the baby pygmy hippopotamus who inspired the memecoin, first birthday this Kheow Open Zoo, the Thailand based zoo where it lives, announced that they will be holding a three-day event starting 10th July to celebrate her birthday. This will include a Moo Deng themed art exhibition, a parade of animal mascots and a giant birthday cake presented to the the recent price increase, MOODENG still remains 285% away from its $0.70 all-time high that was seen in November 2024. Discover more here: EYE-CATCHING STORIESHouse Announces Week of July 14th as 'Crypto Week'The US House of Representatives have announced that next week (the week of 14th July) will be 'Crypto Week' where the CLARITY Act, the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act and the Senate's GENIUS Act will be considered.'After years of dedicated work in Congress on digital assets, we are advancing landmark legislation to establish a clear regulatory framework for digital assets that safeguards consumers and investors, provides rules for the issuance and operation of dollar-backed payment stablecoins, and permanently blocks the creation of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) to safeguard Americans' financial privacy,' said House Committee on Financial Services Chairman French Hill. We await to see the outcome of 'Crypto Week'. Major steps forward in passing these Acts could provide a positive tailwind for cryptoasset prices. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba ( Signal PressWire is the world's largest independent Middle East PR distribution service.
Arabian Business
01-07-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Crypto in 2025: Buy, wait or exit?
As cryptocurrency markets navigate through mid-2025, investors face a complex landscape of soaring prices, regulatory shifts, and evolving institutional adoption. With Bitcoin touching new heights over $110,000 in June 2025, the question among investors is whether this represents the ideal entry point or a dangerous peak. The bull case: Momentum and institutional backing The numbers offer a compelling outlook for crypto enthusiasts. Bitcoin has already made headlines this year by surging past its previous all-time high, touching over $110,295 in June 2025 before stabilising around $105,000 to $107,000. This performance has sparked enthusiasm among both retail and institutional investors. 'One reason why now could be a good time to invest in crypto is that generally risk assets such as crypto have performed well when financial conditions globally are loose and money is more available,' by Simon Peters, Crypto Analyst at eToro said in an exclusive interview with Arabian Business. The forecast from industry analysts remain optimistic. Bitcoin is projected to trade between $80,440 and $151,200 in 2025, with stretched targets of $175,000 to $185,000. Standard Chartered's Geoff Kendrick has been particularly bullish, forecasting BTC could climb to $120,000 by mid-year, with the potential to hit $200,000 by year-end. 'Global liquidity – essentially how much money is available in the global economy and a metric which the crypto markets closely mirror – is forecast to increase throughout the remainder of the year. Governments have trillions of dollars of debt from past years to refinance. Whether it is through quantitative easing or other means, as more money becomes available or newly introduced, it tends to find its way into markets, pushing up asset prices,' Peters explained. The broader fundamentals also appears strong. The global digital currency market size was estimated at $5.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.1 per cent from 2025 to 2030. This growth is being driven by institutional adoption and mainstream acceptance, with decentralised currency companies employing about 1.9 million people worldwide, with 228,700 new jobs added last year. 'Furthermore, as interest rates and borrowing costs fall for the consumer, the oversupply that was once going to debt repayments may find its way into crypto markets,' he added. Volatility and risks persist The virtual currency market's volatility continues to remain a concern. The first quarter of 2025 proved challenging for the market, with Bitcoin suffering its worst quarter performance in seven years, characterised by significant volatility and a prevailing downward trend. 'Before investing in general, one needs to consider their time horizon, i.e how long they can stay invested, as this will dictate how far along the risk curve one could go and if crypto should be considered in the first place. If the investor has a long-time horizon then crypto, as it is generally considered the most volatile of the asset classes, could be considered,' Peters explained. Regulatory uncertainty continues to shadow the market. The Bookings Institution highlighted ongoing concerns about market integrity, highlighting that this regulatory gap has created an environment in which scams, market manipulation, and misleading markets flourish, often retail investors' expense. The scale of market manipulation remains substantial, with Chainalysis' 2025 Crypto Crime Report identifying over $2.57 billion in potential 'wash trading' activity. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned about systemic risks, particularly in emerging markets. Widespread adoption of blockchain-based assets in these countries could undermine the effectiveness of monetary policy, circumvent capital flow management measures, exacerbate fiscal risks and divert resources from financing the real economy. Financial crime remains a persistent challenge, with regulators and policymakers expected to focus scrutiny on crypto-enabled investment scams frequently known as 'pig butchering' throughout 2025. Peters also highlighted the impact of geopolitical factors on the crypto market, explaining that, 'Geopolitical factors such as the current conflict in the Middle East could cause some fear and uncertainty to spread amongst markets, crypto included. If the agreed ceasefire between Israel and Iran is broken, we could see a sell-off.' 'In addition, reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US on its trade partners will be one to watch in the coming months as this has impacted crypto markets previously,' he added. The regulatory landscape The regulatory environment is experiencing significant changes that could impact investment decisions. Early 2025 has seen a surge in legislative proposals aimed at imposing stricter disclosure requirements, improved reserve management, and operational transparency for stablecoin issuers. The Trump administration's crypto-friendly stance has created new optimism in the sector. The administration's support for stablecoins and other cryptocurrencies could reduce regulatory enforcement and drive adoption, according to Grant Thornton's analysis. The shift was highlighted at the World Economic Forum's Davos 2025 meetings, where Donald Trump's pro-crypto stance is expected to lead to new regulation in the US, with experts discussing whether other countries might follow suit. The Middle East: A regional crypto hub The Middle East has emerged as a strong player in the global virtual currency landscape, with the UAE leading regional adoption and regulatory clarity. The UAE handled over $25 billion in crypto transactions in 2022, with over 1,000 crypto firms operating under strict licensing and AML rules, positioning the country as a leading crypto-friendly jurisdiction globally. Dubai has established itself as a global crypto hub, with Statista predicting that the market in the UAE will reach $254.3 million in revenue by 2025. The emirate's regulatory framework, overseen by the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), has attracted international attention and investment. Recent developments highlight the UAE's commitment to digital assets. In December, the state introduced its first UAE dirham-backed stablecoin – AE Coin, and last month, investment group MGX made a $2 billion investment in Binance – one of the largest deals ever in the crypto industry. This level of institutional commitment signals the country's intent to become a global digital finance center. The broader MENA region shows significant crypto adoption, with Turkey ranking as the largest market in MENA and seventh globally, receiving $136.8 billion in value. The UAE's balanced market benefits from regulatory clarity, while Turkey sees market maturation from stablecoins and high consumer engagement. However, the regional landscape remains varied. Saudi Arabia maintains a more cautious approach, with crypto having quasi-legal status, while Qatar imposes more restrictive measures. Saudi Arabia's cautious approach hasn't prevented significant investment interest. Corporate venture capital investors accounted for 30 per cent of all unique investors in Saudi Arabia's venture market in 2024, higher than any other country in the MENA region. Additionally, Saudi Arabia's commitment to $600 billion in U.S. investments, with $20 billion going into AI and data centres, positions the crypto and blockchain industries to benefit from this infrastructure surge. The regional crypto ecosystem's maturation is evidenced by global venture capital investments in crypto companies totalling $5.4 billion in the first quarter of 2025, the best quarter since mid-2022, with significant activity centred in Dubai and the broader Gulf region. Investment considerations for 2025 For potential investors considering cryptocurrency exposure, several factors warrant careful consideration: Market timing: While Bitcoin has showed remarkable gains, conservative forecasts place Bitcoin trading consistently above $80,440 throughout the year, while more bullish projections suggest a ceiling of $151,200. This represents significant potential upscale but also substantial downside risk from current levels. Portfolio allocation: The recommendation from established financial advisors suggests that crypto can play a meaningful role in diversified portfolios but the 10 per cent to 40 per cent allocation range indicates this should be balanced against traditional assets and individual risk tolerance. Regulatory evolution: The changing regulatory landscape presents both opportunities and risks. While a more favourable regulatory environment could drive institutional adoption, new rules could also impact market dynamics and individual investment strategies. Technology and adoption: The employment growth and institutional infrastructure development suggest the cryptocurrency ecosystem is maturing beyond speculation toward utility-driven value creation. Cautious optimism with risk management The current market presents opportunities alongside substantial risks. The combination of improving institutional adoption, favourable regulatory trends, and continued technological development supports the case for strategic crypto exposure. However, the market's inherent volatility, regulatory uncertainties, and potential for manipulation demand careful risk management. 'Understand your time horizon first and how long you are prepared to be invested for. If you will need your capital back soon, perhaps you're looking to put a deposit down on a property for example, then crypto is probably not the best asset class to invest in at this moment in time,' Peters said. For those considering investment in 2025, the key lies in implementing a disciplined approach that aligns with personal risk tolerance and investment objectives. The dramatic price movements seen throughout 2025 demonstrate both the potential rewards and the risks that continue to define this evolving asset class. 'If you are prepared to hold for years then crypto could be an asset class to consider. Holding long-term gives you time to see a potential return on investment, as well as time for the crypto markets to recover from any crashes that could and very often do happen,' he explained. As with any high-risk, high-reward investment, education, proper diversification, and careful position sizing remain the fundamental principles for navigating the dynamic market. 'Finally, only invest with money that you can afford to lose. Rather than deploying all of your capital at one time, consider dollar-cost-averaging (i.e. investing a fixed amount of money into an asset at regular intervals) as this could reduce the risk of investing right before a downturn in the crypto markets and also dollar-cost averaging could potentially lower your average cost basis, giving you a greater return in the long run,' Peters concluded.
Al Bawaba
24-06-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Bitcoin Fluctuates Amid Geopolitical Escalation
Simon Peters, Crypto Analyst at eToro finds that Bitcoin dipped below the $100,000 level over the weekend, as geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran intensified. The US undertook air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, and Iran, in retaliation, is now threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping channel which could impact global markets and in particular oil the price began falling on the back of the escalating geopolitical tensions, approximately $313 million worth of traders' long positions were liquidated, exacerbating the price fall to $98,000. The sell-off was short lived however. Bitcoin is now back above $100,000 level, currently at $101,500. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba ( Signal PressWire is the world's largest independent Middle East PR distribution service.
