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Bitcoin, the world’s largest and most well-known cryptocurrency, surged past the $100,000 mark on Thursday for the first time since February 2025, amid growing investor optimism following a significant trade agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom.
By midday, Bitcoin was trading at $101,329.97, reflecting a 4.7% gain for the day. This jump pushes the digital currency back into positive territory for the year, despite recent volatility and major market headwinds.
Rising Market Confidence After Trade Breakthrough
Investor sentiment has shifted toward riskier assets like cryptocurrencies, buoyed by the announcement of a renewed trade pact between two of the world’s leading economies. The deal, which was unveiled earlier in the week, appears to have injected fresh optimism into both traditional and digital markets.
“Now that the United States appears more reasonable and concludes agreements with other countries, cryptocurrencies are on the rise again,” said Stephane Ifrah, an analyst at crypto platform Coinhouse.
Trump’s Crypto-Friendly Stance Supports Market
Former President Donald Trump, who recently launched a campaign for a second term in the White House, has publicly supported cryptocurrencies, helping boost confidence in the sector among his base and financial markets. During his campaign, Trump vowed to support digital innovation and minimize regulatory constraints on crypto-related ventures.
However, Trump’s economic policies have been a mixed bag for markets. A wave of tariffs imposed on global trading partners during his previous administration had triggered financial instability. While crypto was not directly targeted by these tariffs, the associated market turbulence led investors to shift toward safer assets like gold.
Bitcoin Recovers from Recent Volatility
Despite Thursday’s surge, Bitcoin remains below its all-time high of over $109,000, which it briefly touched in January 2025, hours before Trump’s inauguration. It had previously breached the $100,000 threshold for the first time in December 2024, a symbolic and psychological milestone for crypto investors worldwide.
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However, the road to recovery has not been smooth. Bitcoin dipped to $75,000 in early April, amid widespread market uncertainty, regulatory crackdowns, and cybersecurity scandals.
Scandals and Hacks Shake Investor Confidence
One of the most severe blows to investor trust came with the collapse of the once-hyped cryptocurrency $LIBRA, a project that had received public endorsements from Argentine President Javier Milei. The token’s value plummeted after early investors offloaded their holdings, leaving latecomers with massive losses.
Adding to the industry’s troubles, Dubai-based exchange Bybit suffered the largest crypto theft in history in February, with hackers stealing $1.5 billion in digital assets. These incidents sent shockwaves through the market and reinforced concerns about crypto’s vulnerability to fraud and exploitation.
Authorities in Argentina are now reportedly investigating Milei for potential fraud, criminal association, and breach of duties, related to his promotion of $LIBRA on social media.
A Boost from the UK and EU Regulatory Moves
While the sector has suffered setbacks, recent legislative developments in Europe have helped stabilize investor outlook. The UK government introduced draft legislation in April to regulate cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. This follows the European Union’s rollout of a comprehensive crypto framework, further signaling mainstream adoption and policy alignment.
“Bitcoin is strong in line with the stock market,” said Charlie Morris, analyst at ByteTree. “The UK trade deal is one good reason to be bullish because many more trade deals are likely to follow.”
What Comes Next for Bitcoin?
Thursday’s rally is being interpreted by many analysts as a sign that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are once again being viewed as legitimate speculative assets, especially as the macroeconomic climate appears to stabilize. Still, concerns linger about volatility, regulatory uncertainty, and technological security within the crypto space.
While the surge to over $100,000 is a psychological boost for investors, Bitcoin must still prove its resilience in a landscape shaped by politics, policy, and innovation.
