The price of bitcoin breached the $34,000 level to hit its highest since May last year, bolstered by positive sentiment about a bitcoin exchange-traded fund. The world’s largest cryptocurrency was trading 4.97% higher at $34,596.40 on Tuesday, according to data from Coin Metrics. Ether, the second-biggest digital coin, surged to its highest since August, according to Coin Metrics data. “The real catalyst that created the ‘god candle’ earlier today and pushed bitcoin above $34,000 was the $167 million in short liquidations, mainly on offshore exchanges,” said Ryan Rasmussen, analyst at Bitwise Asset Management. “I don’t think anyone expected the level of price action we’re seeing, and those investors who were shorting bitcoin in the $33,000 plus range are certainly feeling the pain of that surprise today,” said Rasmussen. Anticipation of a bitcoin ETF grew after the court ruled in favor of crypto-focused asset manager Grayscale over the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in its bid to turn its huge Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) bitcoin fund into an ETF. Last week, the SEC declined to appeal that ruling by a key deadline, sparking hopes a bitcoin-related ETF may be approved in the next few months. A bitcoin ETF would give investors a way to gain exposure to bitcoin’s price movements without owning the cryptocurrency directly. Bitcoin is considered a highly volatile asset, and its price fluctuations are unpredictable.
Bitcoin crosses $34,000 to the highest since May 2022 on ETF hopes
