Bitcoin hits new ATH over $109k on Trump inauguration day

“On January 20, 2025, Bitcoin soared to a record $109,036, per Cointelegraph, hours before Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th U.S. President, fueled by his pro-crypto pledges. The surge, a 6% spike in minutes, broke the previous high of $108,000 set on December 17, 2024, per TradingView. Concurrently, Gary Gensler’s announced resignation from the SEC, effective the same day, amplified optimism, per prior reports, as the crypto industry anticipated deregulation under Trump’s nominee, Paul Atkins. Bitcoin stabilized at $108,342, up 3% in 24 hours, per CoinGecko, while Ethereum gained 2.5% to $3,350, and the crypto market cap rose $70 billion to $3.2 trillion, per CoinMarketCap.

The Lead: Bitcoin’s Record and Gensler’s Departure

Bitcoin’s meteoric rise to $109,036 at 6:55 am UTC on January 20, 2025, marked a historic milestone, per Cointelegraph, driven by Trump’s inauguration and his vow to make the U.S. the “crypto capital,” per prior analyses. The rally, which saw BTC climb 6% in minutes before dipping to $108,000, reflected surging investor confidence, per TradingView. Gensler’s November 21, 2024, announcement of his January 20 exit, per the SEC, further electrified markets, ending a tenure that imposed $21 billion in penalties, including high-profile crypto cases like Terraform Labs’ $4.5 billion fraud verdict, per earlier reports.

Gensler, vilified by crypto advocates for suing Binance, Coinbase, and Consensys, per prior analyses, oversaw 2,700 enforcement actions, returning $2.7 billion to investors, per the SEC. His departure, aligned with Trump’s promise to replace him, per prior reports, coincided with a 69% Polymarket odds spike for a U.S. Bitcoin reserve within Trump’s first 100 days, per Cointelegraph. The crypto industry, the top corporate donor in 2024 with $100 million in election spending, per Politico, celebrated the shift, with Coinbase’s stock up 12%, per Investing.com.

Market Frenzy: Crypto’s Trump-Fueled Rally

Bitcoin’s 3% 24-hour gain to $108,342, per CoinGecko, led a broader market surge. Ethereum rose 2.5% to $3,350, Solana climbed 4% to $290, and the crypto market cap hit $3.2 trillion, per CoinMarketCap. Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $1.2 billion in inflows on January 17, per Farside Investors, while Trump’s TRUMP memecoin, launched January 17, soared to an $11 billion market cap, per Cointelegraph, despite a 38% drop after Melania’s token debut, per prior reports. X posts, like @Cointelegraph’s note on Trump’s “Bitcoin has shattered one record high after another,” captured the euphoria,.

The rally built on Bitcoin’s $100,000 breakthrough in early December 2024, post-Trump’s November 6 victory, per Cointelegraph. Polymarket’s 69% odds of a Bitcoin reserve, up from 39% a week earlier, per Cointelegraph, and Trump’s crypto advisory council plans, per AP News, drove sentiment. However, a “buy the rumor, sell the news” dip saw Bitcoin fall to $101,000 post-inauguration, per @Investingcom, as Trump omitted crypto in his speech,. Volatility warnings, like @RektCapital’s note on a potential $70,000-$75,000 support zone, per prior analyses, tempered optimism.

Why It Mattered: A Regulatory and Political Pivot

The convergence of Bitcoin’s peak and Gensler’s exit resonated for three reasons. First, it signaled a regulatory sea change. Gensler’s crypto crackdowns, with 18% of SEC tips crypto-related despite crypto’s 1% market share, per the SEC’s Inspector General, contrasted with Trump’s deregulation promises, backed by Atkins and David Sacks as “AI and Crypto Czar,” per Forbes. Second, it showcased crypto’s political muscle, with $100 million in 2024 election funds, per Politico, and Ripple’s Brad Garlinghouse noting 75% of new hires as U.S.-based, per @bgarlinghouse,.

Third, it highlighted global stakes. The EU’s MiCA regulation, effective Q1 2025, per cryptonews.com, and India’s 30% crypto tax, per prior reports, framed the U.S.’s potential as a crypto hub, per Atkins’ 2008 SEC critique favoring restraint, per prior analyses. Yet, Bitcoin’s 170 million metric ton carbon footprint, per UN research, and volatility risks, as seen in a 20% drop to $89,164 by February 2025, per Forbes, raised concerns,. Trump’s memecoin venture, per Reuters, sparked ethics debates but fueled retail interest, per @follis_,.

What’s Next: Crypto’s Golden Age or Volatile Path?

Bitcoin’s trajectory points to $120,000 by mid-2025, per @intocryptoverse,, with March 2025 prices at $99,381.83, per CoinMarketCap, and Ethereum at $3,000, per prior reports. Trump’s Bitcoin reserve, using 205,515 seized BTC, per Arkham Intelligence, and potential stablecoin laws, per prior analyses, could drive growth. Institutional adoption, with MicroStrategy’s Nasdaq 100 inclusion, per Cointelegraph, and $4.8 billion in Bitcoin ETF inflows, per cryptonews.com, supports bullishness. However, tariff-driven inflation, per BBC, and regulatory gaps, like Ether ETF staking, per prior reports, pose risks.

Sustainable mining, at 59% by 2022, per the Bitcoin Mining Council, mitigates environmental critiques, while global adoption, with Bitcoin as legal tender in El Salvador, per Fortune India, grows. Volatility persists, as seen in a $1.25 billion liquidation event pre-inauguration, per gbnews.com,. X posts, like @CrypNuevo’s note on a $76,000-$78,000 support zone,, suggest resilience, but Trump’s memecoin ties, per Reuters, raise conflict-of-interest flags, per @D’Anethan,.

Conclusion: Bitcoin’s $109K High Heralds New Era

Bitcoin’s $109,036 peak on January 20, 2025, per Cointelegraph, and Gensler’s SEC exit ignited a 3% BTC and 2.5% ETH rally, pushing the crypto market to $3.2 trillion. Trump’s pro-crypto vision, with Atkins’ SEC leadership and a possible Bitcoin reserve, contrasts Gensler’s $21 billion enforcement legacy. As Bitcoin holds at $99,381.83 by March 2025, institutional inflows and global adoption signal a bullish horizon, tempered by volatility and regulatory challenges.

Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments are highly volatile and speculative. Always conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.”