Bitcoin Surpasses $106,000 for the First Time Ever… 'All-Time High'

Trump Hints at 'Strategic Bitcoin Reserve'

MicroStrategy's Inclusion in Nasdaq 100 Also a Positive

U.S. Experts Say "Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Will Take Time"

President-elect Trump emphasized digital assets once again in an interview over the weekend, leading Bitcoin to reach an all-time high in the Asian market on the 16th (local time).

According to foreign media on the 16th, Bitcoin rose over 3% at one point in Asia, reaching $106,493 for the first time ever. This surpasses the previous high set on the 5th. Ether traded up 1.5% at $3,965.

President-elect Trump emphasized in an interview with CNBC that he wants the U.S. to be the leader in cryptocurrency. He responded positively to a question about creating a cryptocurrency reserve similar to the oil reserve.

According to cryptocurrency data provider CoinGecko, as of the end of July, governments worldwide hold 2.2% of the total Bitcoin supply. The U.S. holds about 200,000 Bitcoins, valued at over $20 billion. Other countries like China, the UK, Bhutan, and El Salvador also hold significant amounts of Bitcoin.

The news that MicroStrategy, a leading Bitcoin investment company, will be included in the Nasdaq 100 index also fueled Bitcoin's strength.

On the 13th, the Nasdaq Global Index announced that it would include MicroStrategy in the Nasdaq 100 Index. MicroStrategy has become a leveraged betting company on Bitcoin, raising billions of dollars to invest in it.

Sean McNulty, trading director at liquidity provider Avellos Markets, said, "MicroStrategy's inclusion in the Nasdaq 100 could lead index funds to buy the company's stock." This analysis suggests it will become easier for MicroStrategy to raise capital to buy Bitcoin.

In the U.S., there are many skeptical opinions about the strategic reserve of Bitcoin, and it is expected to take a long time to implement.

Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone, said, "Strategically stockpiling Bitcoin should be done cautiously, and it is unlikely to happen in the near future."

Since Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election, expectations for regulatory easing on digital assets have risen, and Bitcoin continues to rally.

Bitcoin, which has more than doubled this year, was trading at $104,616 in the London market as of 5 a.m. on this day.

Bitcoin has been on a seven-week winning streak until Sunday, the longest since 2021. The recent faltering rally could be "a sign of a rally retreat," said Tony Sycamore, a market analyst at IG Australia.

Since Trump's election victory, $12.2 billion has flowed into Bitcoin investment ETFs. $2.8 billion has also flowed into ETFs investing in Ether.

Guest reporter Kim Jung-ah kja@hankyung.com