Bitcoin Surpasses $100,000 Mark Ahead of Trump’s Inauguration, While Ether Sees Decline

Crypto prices have surged in the days leading up to the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, with Bitcoin leading the charge. On Friday, Bitcoin’s price saw a notable 2.09 percent increase on international exchanges, climbing to $101,526 (approximately Rs. 87.8 lakh), according to data from CoinMarketCap. Indian exchanges such as CoinSwitch and Giottus saw an even higher rise, with Bitcoin trading at $104,532 (roughly Rs. 90.5 lakh), reflecting a 1.5 percent gain locally. This rally signals strong investor optimism ahead of the political transition, potentially fueled by anticipation of economic policy changes under the new administration.

Despite Bitcoin’s impressive climb, Ether experienced a slight downturn during the same period. On global platforms, the price of Ether dropped by 1.03 percent, falling to $3,370 (roughly Rs. 2.91 lakh). Indian exchanges also reflected this decline, with Ether down by 0.59 percent, trading at $3,483 (around Rs. 3.01 lakh). The dip in Ether’s value contrasts sharply with Bitcoin’s growth, highlighting the ongoing volatility within the crypto market, where different assets can move in opposite directions even within short time frames.

Experts suggest that the rise in Bitcoin’s value is linked to broader economic trends, particularly the expectation of monetary easing from the US Federal Reserve. According to Avinash Shekhar, Co-Founder and CEO of Pi42, the surge in Bitcoin and other altcoins like XRP points to a new phase in the crypto market. Shekhar emphasized that this shift is driven by increasing institutional participation and innovations within the sector, which are expected to fuel growth and solidify cryptocurrency’s role in the modern economy.

The broader crypto market has also seen positive movement, with the total market capitalization rising by 2.06 percent in the last 24 hours. As of now, the crypto market cap stands at a substantial $3.56 trillion (around Rs. 3,08,22,831 crore), underscoring the growing strength and influence of the crypto ecosystem. With such momentum, cryptocurrencies are poised to remain a key component of global financial markets in the coming years.