Asset management firm and exchange-traded fund (ETF) issuer VanEck is standing firm on its bullish price prediction for Bitcoin (BTC).

In a new report, VanEck says a number of key indicators the firm tracks continue to suggest that BTC is not yet in the late stages of a bull run.

“Now in uncharted territory with no technical price resistance, we believe the next phase of the bull market is just beginning. This pattern mirrors what happened four years ago, when Bitcoin’s price doubled between the 2020 election and year-end, followed by an additional ~137% gain in 2021.

With a transformative shift in government support for Bitcoin underway, investor interest is rising rapidly; we are receiving inbound calls at an accelerating pace as many investors find themselves under-allocated to the asset class. While we remain vigilant for signs of overheating, we reiterate our cycle price target of $180,000/ BTC as a number of key indicators we track continue to signal green for this rally.”

VanEck also looks at perpetual futures trading data, or “perps” which are derivative contracts that allow traders to easily leverage trade cryptocurrencies. The perp market is balanced by funding rates that force one side of the market to pay the other to keep positions open.

The firm says that BTC becomes overheated when the 30 Displaced Moving Average (DMA) perp funding rates exceed 10% for one to three months.

VanEck also expects the new US presidential administration slated to be led by Donald Trump to be more accommodative to the crypto industry, helping boost further rallies as 2025 comes into view.

“In our view, this election marks a bullish turning point, reversing years of offshoring jobs and capital caused by previous hawkish leadership. By fostering entrepreneurial dynamism, the US is poised to become a global leader in crypto innovation and employment, transforming crypto into a critical industry for domestic growth and a key export to emerging markets.”

At time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $97,098.

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Bitcoin has surged past the $99,800 mark, setting another all-time high as it inches closer to the psychological $100,000 milestone. Despite briefly testing the level, BTC has yet to break through, leaving investors and analysts eagerly anticipating the next move. With demand remaining robust, the stage appears set for Bitcoin to push past this key barrier in the coming days.

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Recent data from CryptoQuant highlights a significant factor driving this rally: the Coinbase Premium Gap, which currently sits at $224. This metric, representing the price difference between Bitcoin on Coinbase and other global exchanges, signals strong buying activity from US Coinbase investors. 

The relentless upward momentum has further solidified Bitcoin’s dominance in the crypto market, with many viewing the $100,000 level as a critical supply zone. While the price has yet to break through, the ongoing rally reflects a growing belief that Bitcoin’s parabolic bull phase is far from over. As the market approaches this pivotal moment, all eyes remain on BTC’s ability to sustain its momentum and claim new highs, setting the tone for the weeks ahead.

Bitcoin Price Action Remains Strong

Bitcoin has been in an “only up” phase since November 5, showing no signs of weakness as it consistently climbs to new heights. Even after failing to break above the $100,000 mark yesterday, price action remains incredibly strong. Bulls are firmly in control, and if Bitcoin holds above critical demand levels, the long-anticipated $100,000 milestone could be breached within hours.

CryptoQuant analyst Maartunn revealed that robust demand from US investors is a key driving force behind this rally. According to his data, the Coinbase Premium Gap—a metric that tracks the price difference between Bitcoin on Coinbase and other global exchanges—stands at $224. 

This positive premium underscores US-based buying activity as a significant factor in the current bullish momentum. A high premium often suggests that investors on Coinbase are willing to pay a higher price than others, a strong indicator of heightened demand.

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As the market watches closely, Bitcoin’s ability to maintain its upward trajectory hinges on staying above vital support levels. The psychological resistance at $100,000 remains formidable, but the unyielding appetite from US investors points to continued strength in the days ahead. With such solid fundamentals, many analysts believe Bitcoin is poised for another explosive rally once the $100,000 barrier is decisively cleared.

BTC Rally Is Only Starting

Bitcoin is trading at $98,800 after a failed breakout above the highly anticipated $100,000 mark. Despite this temporary setback, price action remains firmly bullish as BTC continues to hold above key demand levels, showing resilience and strength in the current market. The failure to retrace to lower prices indicates that bullish momentum is still intact, keeping investors optimistic about a potential breakthrough.

If BTC maintains its position above the critical $95,000 support level, the likelihood of a surge past the $100,000 psychological barrier increases significantly. Holding above this level would signal strong buyer interest and the potential for further upside, paving the way for Bitcoin to resume its upward trajectory in the near term.

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However, if Bitcoin fails to hold above $95,000, a retrace to lower demand zones would confirm a short-term correction. Such a pullback could provide the necessary fuel for the next rally, as it would allow the market to consolidate before making another attempt at breaking the $100,000 mark.

For now, all eyes remain on Bitcoin’s ability to defend its key support levels as the market anticipates the next major move in this historic rally.

Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis says converting gold reserves into Bitcoin could strengthen the U.S. government’s finances.

In an interview with CNBC, Lummis suggested that the Federal Reserve sell some of its gold reserves, which were valued at 1970s prices, and use the proceeds to buy Bitcoin (BTC).

See the clip below.

Lummis, known for her bullish support of cryptocurrency, believes that creating a strategic Bitcoin reserve could strengthen the dollar’s position as the world’s reserve currency and reduce the country’s debt burden.

She also suggested that Bitcoin, which is edging toward $100,000, could provide high returns.

Bitcoin can be considered a “gold standard digital asset” and creating a strategic reserve would be an essential step in its implementation, Lummis explained.

“We have reserves at our 12 Federal Reserve banks, including gold certificates that could be converted to current fair market value. They’re held at their 1970s value on the books. And then sell them into bitcoin, that way we wouldn’t have to use any new dollars in order to establish this reserve.”

Senator Cynthia Lummis

With the Trump administration’s growing interest in cryptocurrencies, Lummis said that legislation for digital assets could begin to be developed in the coming years.

How the Bitcoin reserve works

The creation of the Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Fund is a comprehensive initiative meant to strengthen financial stability and protect the nation’s assets.

The Bitcoin Strategic Reserve will also act as a secure financial mechanism that allows the government and other agencies to use Bitcoin as a long-term asset.

The reserve will include a decentralized storage network. By creating a decentralized network of secure Bitcoin storage facilities, the U.S. can protect assets from centralized risks and vulnerabilities. Storage facilities will be distributed across different regions, reducing dependence on one location.

Bitcoin purchase program

The government will implement a Bitcoin purchase program, and it is planning to purchase 200,000 BTC per year for five years. The overall goal is to increase Bitcoin’s strategic reserve to 1 million BTC. Purchases will be made regularly to avoid sharp price fluctuations and ensure consistency.

All purchased Bitcoin will be held in the reserve for at least 20 years.

In addition, all Bitcoins currently stored in other government agencies will be transferred to the strategic reserve, which will allow for centralization and efficient asset management. States can voluntarily participate in this reserve by opening segregated accounts to deposit or withdraw their Bitcoin assets as needed.

The initiative will be supported because government agencies cannot confiscate or seize the rights to legally owned Bitcoin assets. This will provide confidence and incentives for Americans to store their Bitcoins independently.

Bitcoin reserves will not solve the U.S. national debt problem

Avik Roy, president of the non-profit think tank Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP), doubts that creating a strategic reserve in Bitcoin will help the U.S. overcome the debt crisis.

Speaking at the North American Blockchain Summit 2024 in Dallas, Avik Roy said that Lummis’s plan will not help cover the national debt, which has already grown to $35 trillion.

“The Bitcoin reserve is good but does not solve the problem. You still have to actually do the budgetary reforms to get us out of this $2 trillion a year of federal deficits.”

Avik Roy, FREOPP president

According to Roy, even with a Bitcoin reserve, the U.S. would still have to implement budgetary reforms to get the country out of its $2 trillion federal deficit annually.

The political scientist noted that the BTC reserve could ease tensions in the bond market by making it feel like the U.S. is not going broke. Roy is also concerned that the U.S. could abandon its BTC reserves in the future, similar to what happened with gold in the 1970s.

The argument against Lummis

Bitcoin as a reserve asset points to several other challenges, with the biggest being volatility. Bitcoin’s price fluctuations make it a risky reserve asset compared to stable options like gold.

After all, Bitcoin has experienced several notable crashes throughout its history.

• In June 2011, when the Mt. Gox exchange was hacked. Bitcoin’s price dropped from $32 to $0.01 in a single day, a nearly 99.9% collapse.
• December 2017 to February 2018: After hitting a peak of nearly $20,000, Bitcoin lost over 56% of its value within months.
• March 2020: During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bitcoin’s price fell nearly 46% in less than a month, dropping from $10,300 to about $5,600.
• May 2021: Bitcoin dropped over 40% in two weeks, from $58,000 to $34,700.
• November 2022: Following the collapse of the FTX exchange, Bitcoin experienced a 14% dip in a short period

Bitcoin is also typically associated with illicit activities and discreet purchases, which raises concerns about integrating it into national financial systems​. Critics say it could also enable countries like Russia to bypass international sanctions, undermine global financial stability and create geopolitical tensions.

Trump’s crypto advisory board to create promised reserve

A number of cryptocurrency companies, including Ripple, Kraken, and Circle, are seeking a seat on President Donald Trump‘s promised crypto advisory board, as Reuters reports. They are eager to participate in his plans to overhaul U.S. policy.

During his campaign at a Bitcoin conference in Nashville in July, Trump promised to create a new council as part of a pro-crypto administration. Trump’s team is discussing how to organize and staff the council and which companies should be included.

Potential members include venture capital firm Paradigm and the crypto arm of venture giant Andreessen Horowitz, known as a16z.

“It’s being fleshed out, but I anticipate the leading executives from America’s bitcoin and crypto firms to be represented.”

David Bailey, CEO of Bitcoin Magazine

According to sources, the team is expected to advise on digital asset policy, work with Congress on cryptocurrency legislation, create the Bitcoin reserve promised by Trump, and collaborate with agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the Treasury Department. One source said law enforcement officials and former lawmakers may also be on the board.