Bitcoin price (BTC) has shattered its previous record, soaring today past $111,000 for the first time in history as institutional investors continue to pour billions into the cryptocurrency market. This milestone comes amid growing adoption from corporations, positive regulatory developments, and improving global economic conditions that have created the perfect storm for Bitcoin's ascent.

In this article, we answer the question of why Bitcoin is going up, what triggered the recent surge, how the technical chart analysis looks, and what the latest Bitcoin price predictions are for 2025 and beyond.

Why Is Bitcoin Going Up Today? BTC Price Hits New ATH

The world's largest cryptocurrency touched a high of $111,886.41 in early trading hours, continuing its impressive rally that began in April 2025. This represents a remarkable 47% recovery from its April low of $74,500, when global markets tumbled amid trade war concerns and tariff uncertainties.

Bitcoin price today, 22 May 2025. Source: CoinMarketCap.com

Bitcoin news outlets are reporting several key factors driving Bitcoin's current surge:

BTC Strong Institutional Demand

Institutional interest in Bitcoin has reached unprecedented levels, providing substantial support for the price rally. U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs have attracted approximately $4.2 billion in May alone, with inflows recorded on nearly every trading day this month. These investment vehicles have now accumulated over $40 billion in total assets, demonstrating the growing confidence of institutional investors in Bitcoin as a legitimate asset class.

Corporate adoption has also accelerated dramatically. Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) has expanded its Bitcoin holdings to over $50 billion, while numerous other companies have joined the trend:

Japan's Metaplanet added 1,004 BTC worth $129 million
Twenty One Capital (backed by Tether and SoftBank) has launched with a Bitcoin-focused treasury model
Several small-cap companies are financing Bitcoin purchases through convertible bonds and preferred stocks

“Unlike previous cycles, this rally is not momentum-driven alone,” explains Julia Zhou, COO of crypto market maker Caladan. “It is quantitatively underpinned by measurable, persistent demand and supply dislocations.”

Favorable Regulatory Environment

Recent Bitcoin news indicates the regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies has improved significantly in 2025, contributing to Bitcoin's upward momentum. The U.S. Senate recently advanced a key stablecoin bill that would create the first regulatory framework for this crucial sector of the crypto market. President Trump has expressed his intention to sign crypto regulation into law by August, providing much-needed clarity for the industry.

“There is a combination of factors at play that has helped push BTC to new highs and a further break back above $111,000 is inevitable in the coming months. This is because in part, the US regulatory environment is a lot friendlier than anytime in the past,” commented Paul Howard, Senior Director at Wincent. “The macro-economic outlook has improved considerably in the last 3 months. There has been fundamental changes in the way institutions can participate in digital assets including; ETFs, Tokenization, RWA, Stablecoins, spot and derivatives.”

This regulatory progress has bolstered investor confidence and attracted more institutional capital to the space. The addition of Coinbase to the S&P 500 earlier this month further legitimized the cryptocurrency sector as a mainstream financial market.

Macroeconomic Tailwinds Help Bitcoin

Bitcoin's rise coincides with several favorable macroeconomic developments:

Easing U.S.-China trade tensions have reduced global economic uncertainty and improved risk sentiment
Moody's downgrade of U.S. sovereign debt has highlighted Bitcoin's potential as an alternative store of value
Weakness in the U.S. dollar has made Bitcoin more attractive as a hedge against currency devaluation
Increasing liquidity in financial markets has benefited risk assets broadly

“Bitcoin's new high has been concocted by an array of favorable ingredients in the macro cauldron,” notes Antoni Trenchev, co-founder of crypto exchange Nexo. “We've entered an alternate universe very different from early April when global macro concerns were at their peak.”

Bitcoin Price Prediction 2025: What's Next?

With Bitcoin breaking into uncharted territory, investors are naturally wondering how high it could go in the remainder of 2025. Analysts have offered various projections based on technical analysis, on-chain metrics, and market fundamentals.

BTC Short-Term Outlook And Technical Analysis

Technical analysts suggest that Bitcoin could target $125,000 in the near term if it maintains momentum above the $110,000 level. As I mentioned in my earlier analysis of Bitcoin’s daily chart, the pin bar candle at the $105,000 support level should be seen as a strong buy signal. Since it formed, BTC has already gained over 6%, giving buyers a clear sign to push for new highs.

Pin bar candle pushed Bitcoin price to new ATH. Source: Tradingview.com

The cryptocurrency has also formed a bullish pattern, with seven consecutive green weekly candles since April, a sign of strong upward momentum.

“A sustained break above $110,000 is needed to trigger the next leg higher towards $125,000,” explains Tony Sycamore, market analyst at IG.

The options market provides additional insights into trader expectations. The most popular Bitcoin call options on Deribit (the largest crypto derivatives exchange) are currently at strike prices of $120,000 and $300,000 with June 27 expiration dates, indicating significant bullish sentiment.

Year-End Projections

For the remainder of 2025, most analysts maintain a bullish outlook for Bitcoin:

Antoni Trenchev of Nexo suggests a target of $150,000 is “still very much on the cards” for 2025
Ryan Lee from Bitget Research predicts Bitcoin could reach $180,000, driven by institutional inflows and limited supply
Tracy Jin from MEXC estimates $150,000, citing Bitcoin's growing role in investment portfolios
Changelly's technical analysis suggests Bitcoin could reach $137,854 by the end of May and potentially trade above $130,000 through June
Edward Carroll, head of global markets at MHC Digital Group, believes growing demand could push Bitcoin to at least $160,000 by the fourth quarter of this year.

Is This Bitcoin Rally Sustainable?

A key question for investors is whether the current rally is sustainable or merely speculative. Several factors suggest this uptrend may have stronger foundations than previous cycles:

1. Institutional-Driven Demand

Unlike the retail-driven frenzy of previous bull markets, the current rally is primarily fueled by institutional investors with longer investment horizons.

Caroline Bowler, CEO of BTC Markets, notes: “Today's demand is driven by institutional-grade infrastructure and stronger regulatory clarity. Investor sentiment has shifted decisively, reflecting institutional-style allocations.”

This is supported by Google Trends data showing that retail interest remains relatively low, with search volume for “Bitcoin” at levels typically seen during bear markets.

2. Supply Dynamics

Bitcoin's recent halving in April 2024 reduced the block reward to 3.125 BTC, decreasing the rate of new supply entering the market. This supply shock, combined with growing institutional demand, creates favorable conditions for sustained price appreciation.

The total Bitcoin held by public companies has grown 31% since the beginning of 2025 to approximately $349 billion, representing 15% of the total Bitcoin supply. This reduction in circulating supply puts additional upward pressure on prices.

3. Market Structure Improvements

The cryptocurrency market has matured significantly, with improved infrastructure, greater liquidity, and more sophisticated risk management practices. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index currently sits at 72 out of 100, indicating “greed” but still below the extreme levels seen at previous market tops.

On-chain data shows decreased selling pressure, with fewer Bitcoin inflows to exchanges and increased market liquidity as measured by stablecoin reserves.

However, some analysts are less optimistic. “This might be a trap, not a breakout,” warned Dr Kirill Kretov, Senior Automation Expert at CoinPanel. “To really send the market ‘to the sky,’ Bitcoin needs fuel. And right now, that fuel isn’t coming from big players as they’re hedged. Retail is mostly gone, and the few survivors are looking to exit. So where does the fuel come from? From a fresh wave of overleveraged gamblers. That’s exactly what this move invites: new money, chasing highs, taking unhedged long positions. It’s the perfect setup for a shakeout, engineered by those who crafted this all-time highs in a market with no depth.”

Long-Term Bitcoin Price Outlook

Looking beyond 2025, analysts have offered various long-term projections for Bitcoin's price potential.

Bitcoin Price Prediction 2030

Long-term forecasts for Bitcoin by 2030 range widely:

Forecast Source	2030 Target
Standard Chartered (Geoff Kendrick)	$500,000 by 2028 (no specific 2030 target)
VanEck (Matthew Sigel)	No official 2030 target (expects >$400,000 in next cycle)
ARK Invest (Cathie Wood)	$1.2 million base case; $2.4 million bull case; $500,000 bear case
Finder.com Panel (50+ experts)	$405,000 (average forecast)
Robert Kiyosaki	$1 million by 2035
Daniel Roberts (IREN)	$1 million by 2030
Joe Burnett (Unchained)	$1 million by 2030
Jack Dorsey	$1 million by 2030
Bernstein	$1 million by 2033

These projections assume continued institutional adoption, favorable regulatory developments, and Bitcoin's increasing acceptance as a legitimate asset class.

Bitcoin News, FAQs

Why is the Bitcoin price going up?

Bitcoin's price is rising due to several factors: strong institutional demand through ETFs (over $4 billion in May inflows), increasing corporate adoption by companies like Strategy and Metaplanet, favorable regulatory developments including the advancement of a stablecoin bill in the U.S. Senate, and macroeconomic tailwinds such as easing U.S.-China trade tensions and weakness in the U.S. dollar.

What will Bitcoin be worth in 2025?

Analysts project Bitcoin could reach between $150,000 and $180,000 by the end of 2025. Antoni Trenchev of Nexo suggests $150,000 is “still very much on the cards,” while Ryan Lee from Bitget Research predicts $180,000 driven by institutional inflows. Technical analysis indicates Bitcoin could reach $130,000–$138,000 if current patterns play out, though short-term corrections are possible.

How much will 1 Bitcoin be worth in 2030?

Long-term projections for Bitcoin by 2030 range from $200,000 to $1 million per coin. Edward Carroll of MHC Digital Group forecasts $1 million based on growing institutional adoption and Bitcoin's role as a store of value. More conservative estimates suggest $500,000, depending on regulatory developments and global economic conditions. These projections assume continued institutional adoption and Bitcoin's increasing acceptance as a legitimate asset class.