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Bitcoin Climbs Past $30,000 for the First Time Since June 2022

Bitcoin climbed above $30,000 for the first time since June 2022, rallying more than 80 per cent since the start of the year. The rebound is even more intense than a nearly 20 per cent gain on the Nasdaq 100 — with which Bitcoin has tended to move in tandem — and retraces some of the digital token’s losses from 2022 following a series of crypto-related blowups. Still, Bitcoin is down more than 50 per cent from its all-time high in November 2021.

To be sure, the crypto industry is still facing immense scrutiny. Crypto exchange Coinbase Global said it has received a notice from the Securities and Exchange Commission declaring its intention to bring an enforcement action.

The SEC has sued crypto mogul Justin Sun for allegedly violating securities rules in a case Sun said lacks merit. And elsewhere, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission has sued Binance founder Changpeng Zhao and his crypto exchange for alleged violations of derivatives regulations, though Binance has said it doesn’t agree with many of the agency’s characterisations.

But even with the setbacks, Bitcoin’s rally has gained strength over the past month following the collapse of three US banks, which revived the narrative among Bitcoin bulls that the token offers a more attractive alternative to traditional finance.

Furthermore, analysts say a drop in liquidity to a 10-month low — after market makers lost access to US banking rails provided by Silvergate Capital and Signature Bank – could also explain the rebound, at least in part. With lower trading volume, price swings can look more dramatic.

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