
Bitcoin Surges Past $67K as Cryptos Soar During Global IT Disruption; Solana’s SOL Takes the Lead!
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Bitcoin has achieved its highest price in a month, climbing by 5.5% within the last 24 hours.
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Solana has surged 8%, surpassing $170 for the first time since early June.
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Analysts note the strength of decentralized blockchains following significant disruptions in IT systems due to a faulty software update.
The recent resurgence in the cryptocurrency market gained momentum on Friday as Bitcoin (BTC) reached a monthly peak amid a significant global IT failure.
Beginning its ascent from $64,000 during early trading hours in the U.S., Bitcoin crossed the $67,000 threshold later in the day for the first time since June 17. This price rise was bolstered by solid trading activity surrounding BlackRock’s spot bitcoin ETF (IBIT). As of the latest updates, Bitcoin was trading just above $67,000, reflecting a notable 5.5% increase over the past day.
Among major altcoins, Solana (SOL) led the rally with an impressive 8.5% increase in the same timeframe, breaking the $170 mark for the first time since early June. This performance exceeded that of the broader digital asset benchmark, the CoinDesk 20 Index (CD20), which recorded a 4.3% rise.
Ethereum’s ether (ETH) also saw a recovery, regaining the $3,500 level, although it underperformed with only a 3% increase. Regulatory filings from Cboe indicated that the first spot-based Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the U.S. are expected to commence trading next Tuesday.
Earlier in the week, cryptocurrencies experienced a downturn parallel to a sell-off in U.S. stocks. Nevertheless, Friday’s rally materialized while significant equity indexes remained in a decline.
As of 1 PM ET, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite had dropped 0.8%, and the broader S&P 500 decreased by 0.6%. In a related trend, gold plummeted over 2% that day, following a new all-time high earlier this week.
The widespread computer outages, triggered by a software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, disrupted operations across airlines, banks, and various businesses around the globe. This incident led some cryptocurrency analysts to highlight the robustness of decentralized systems like public blockchains compared to more centralized networks.
Charles Edwards, the founder of Capriole Investments, noted the correlation between Bitcoin’s price spike and the opening of traditional U.S. markets, suggesting potential institutional interest. He speculated, “Has an institution suddenly recognized Bitcoin as a secure, decentralized store of value amidst the failures of global tech and banking systems due to problems like Microsoft’s infamous blue screen?”
Bitcoin Aiming for $100,000 by Year-End
From a broader perspective, Bitcoin is currently trading within the mid-range of a multi-month price channel that spans between $56,000 and $73,000. While short-term spot prices may continue to be contained, traders are increasingly anticipating a breakout towards new all-time highs as the U.S. elections approach in November, according to insights from digital asset hedge fund QCP. They reported strong institutional demand for December call options at the $100,000 price point.
Mads Eberhardt, a cryptocurrency analyst at Steno Research, remains optimistic about the latter half of the year for crypto assets. He cites various supportive factors, including anticipated U.S. interest rate reductions, increasing liquidity, clearer regulations in Europe, and the potential for more crypto-friendly governance in the U.S.
He stated, “We could see Bitcoin at $100,000 and Ethereum reaching $6,500.”
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