- Bitcoin smashes its record, climbing to a new all-time high of $124,002.
- Hopes for a significant Federal Reserve rate cut are fueling the rally.
- A new executive order opens the door for crypto in 401(k) retirement plans.
Bitcoin blasted through to a new all-time high on Thursday, as a perfect storm of roaring optimism over Federal Reserve policy and a series of powerful pro-crypto reforms converged to send the digital asset into uncharted territory.
The move signals a dramatic new phase for a market that has been supercharged by a seismic shift in the US political and regulatory landscape.
In early Asian trading, the world’s largest cryptocurrency climbed as much as 0.9% to touch $124,002.49, decisively surpassing the previous peak it set in July.
The tidal wave of buying lifted the broader market, with the second−largest token, Ether, surging to 4,780.04—its highest level since the bull market of late 2021.
The three-pronged catalyst: Fed, institutions, and the White House
This record-setting rally isn’t a random surge; it’s being powered by a clear confluence of forces.
According to IG market analyst Tony Sycamore, Bitcoin’s momentum is a direct result of “increasing certainty of Fed rate cuts, sustained institutional buying and moves by the Trump administration to ease investment in crypto assets.”
The technical picture is now just as bullish, with Sycamore noting that a decisive move could open the floodgates for a much larger run. “Technically a sustained break above $125k could propel BTC to $150,000,” he wrote in a note.
The ‘crypto president’ and the $1.6 trillion surge
Since President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the regulatory environment in the United States has transformed from hostile to overtly favorable.
Trump has proudly labeled himself the “crypto president,” and a series of long-sought regulatory wins for the industry have followed throughout 2025, from the passage of landmark stablecoin regulations to a broader overhaul by the securities regulator to accommodate digital assets.
The market impact of this policy pivot has been staggering. Bitcoin itself has risen nearly 32% so far in 2025.
More broadly, the entire crypto sector’s market capitalization has ballooned from about $2.5 trillion in November 2024, when Trump won the election, to over $4.18 trillion today, according to data from CoinMarketCap.
Unlocking retirement billions: the 401(k) game-changer
The latest and perhaps most significant tailwind came from an executive order signed last week on Thursday.
The order paved the way for crypto assets to be included in 401(k) retirement accounts, a move that could unlock a colossal new wave of mainstream capital for the asset class.
This is not just a win for investors; it’s a potential boon for asset management giants like BlackRock and Fidelity, whose crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) could become staples of American retirement planning.
However, this push into long-term savings is not without its perils.
The very volatility that creates spectacular rallies also poses significant risks, especially for retirement accounts that have historically relied on the relative stability of stocks and bonds.
For now, though, the market is firmly focused on the upside, celebrating a new era of legitimacy that has sent its leading asset to heights once thought unreachable.
