Bitcoin Surpasses $100,000: How BTC Crossed The $100K Mark
| KEY TAKEAWAYS: |
| — Bitcoin’s path to $100K has been marked by extreme volatility, repeated crashes, and raising persistent doubts about its long-term viability as an asset. — Institutional adoption and macroeconomic uncertainty shifted the narrative , positioning Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation rather than a speculative gamble. — BTC crossing the $100K threshold turned crisis-driven doubts into mainstream legitimacy. Despite setbacks, Bitcoin continues to recover stronger. |
Bitcoin’s remarkable journey from its anonymous conception in 2009 to its crossing of the $100,000 mark is a story filled with volatility, emotional highs and lows, and a growing sense of legitimacy in the global financial system.
From its beginnings as an experimental digital currency to becoming one of the largest assets in the world by market cap, Bitcoin’s narrative has entirely changed owing to the factors of its decentralization, scarcity, resilience, and more.
And it’s this resilience that’s reflected in its price as well. Bitcoin has surpassed the $100,000 mark, and in this article, we look at the price of BTC over the last few years and how and when Bitcoin crossed $100K
Bitcoin Price History
Bitcoin was conceptualized as a decentralized form of currency free from governmental control, and it started with little value. Its anonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto’s creation of Bitcoin was a by-product of the 2008 financial crisis and the banking instability, but it was the biggest leap in establishing a trustless currency.
It was also the result of an extension and evolution of the Cypherpunk and digital cash movements that were around in those times. Initially, it was measured in fractions of a cent, and its potential seemed doubtful.
2010 to 2017: Climbing to Prominence
In 2010, Bitcoin made history when Laszlo Hanyecz paid 10,000 BTC for two pizzas, an amount that would be worth billions today. But, Bitcoin’s first real price surge came in 2011, when it crossed the $30 mark, signaling growing interest in the market. However, this was short-lived, and after a quick crash, many analysts declared Bitcoin a ‘passing fad’.
The skepticism continued for years, with many predictions of its inevitable failure.
Despite this, Bitcoin experienced a significant hype wave just two years later in 2013, hitting $1,000, only to crash again a short while later. In 2014, Bitcoin faced a major blow when Mt. Gox, the world’s largest exchange at the time, collapsed after 850,000 BTC were stolen, causing prices to plummet.
This event had people doubt Bitcoin’s future as a viable currency. However, despite these setbacks, Bitcoin saw another surge in December 2017, reaching $20,000 during the “crypto mania,” driven by retail investors. But ultimately, this rally was unsustainable, and Bitcoin entered a sharp decline, dropping to below $4,000 by 2018, further feeding doubts about its long-term viability.
According to mainstream media, Bitcoin has ‘died’ approximately 476 times and counting since 2009
2018 to 2024: Establishing Dominance
From 2018 to 2021, Bitcoin’s resilience became evident as it began recovering from the “crypto winter.” Institutional adoption played a significant role in this recovery, with companies like MicroStrategy and Tesla adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets.
When COVID-19 pandemic hit, the world paid attention to how sound money actually worked. As governments printed massive amounts of fiat money, Bitcoin gained attention as a hedge against inflation, giving it the “digital gold” title.
However, Bitcoin’s journey wasn’t without more turbulence.
In 2022, the collapse of FTX, one of the largest crypto exchanges, caused massive shockwaves in the market, leading to another sharp drop in prices.
Despite this, Bitcoin’s resilience continued, and by 2021, it had surged to $69,000, fueled by institutional investors and high-profile endorsements like Elon Musk. Despite these gains, Bitcoin’s price remained volatile, fluctuating between optimism and fear as the markets kept swinging up and down owing to a lot of factors, including but not limited to the NFT craze, people lacking general understanding of crypto, and the FTX and Luna collapse.
This turbulent history paved the way for Bitcoin finally crossing its prophesied $100,000 mark in December 2024, emerging as a dominant mainstream asset class.
How many times has Bitcoin crossed $100K?
Bitcoin has crossed the $100,000 threshold three times as of June 2025.
When did BTC cross $100K?
The first BTC crossing 100k occurred in December 2024, followed by a downward dip in February 2025. The second crossing above $100,000 took place in May 2025, with Bitcoin trading steadily above the mark in June 2025. The third dip and cross above $100K happened in June 2025 itself, owing to rising geopolitical tensions between Iran and Israel.
Here are some important dates to know:
December 2024
In December 2024, Bitcoin crossed the $100,000 barrier for the first time. It was a historic milestone that placed a global spotlight on Bitcoin’s growing appeal and its increasing acceptance as a legitimate asset.
On December 5, 2024, Bitcoin reached $103,679, setting the stage for a new era. It was finally safe to say Bitcoin could go through numerous “deaths” and still come out strong over the years. The crossing of $100,000 was seen as proof that Bitcoin had finally transcended its status as a speculative investment and become a mainstream financial asset.
February 2025
However, after its historic $100,000 crossing, Bitcoin quickly experienced a downward dip. By February 2025, Bitcoin’s price fell to $84,709.14, below the $100,000 mark.
Despite the February dip, Bitcoin once again defied the odds and surged back above $100,000 in May 2025.
May 2025
In May 2025, the BTC price climbed to $104,010.92, and this recovery was supported by continued institutional interest. Corporations like BlackRock and Fidelity started pouring money into Bitcoin back in 2024 through ETFs, and by early 2025, BlackRock’s Bitcoin fund was worth over $56 billion, and Fidelity’s held $12.6 billion.
Plus, governments, like those in the U.S. and El Salvador, started making rules to use Bitcoin in their financial systems, making it a bigger part of their financial system.
June 2025
As of June, 2025, Bitcoin was trading steady at ~$105,000, a relatively stable position above the critical $100,000 mark for the first time in history. Bitcoin’s price continues to fluctuate above and below the $100,000 threshold throughout 2025.
On June 22, 2025, BTC shortly dipped to $98,000 due to geopolitical tensions, marking a rare drop below $100,000 after 42 consecutive days above it. On the next day, Bitcoin recovered to $103,127.30, crossing back above $100,000.
July 2025
In July 2025, Bitcoin achieved a groundbreaking all-time high of $123,091.61 USD, reached on July 14, 2025, driven by the anticipation and optimism surrounding the US’s ‘Crypto Week’ in Washington DC, where lawmakers began discussing and potentially passing landmark digital asset legislation aimed at providing regulatory clarity, boosting ETF inflows, and enhancing mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies
This milestone followed a series of record-breaking attempts earlier in the month, with BTC briefly topping $116,000 on July 10 before climbing higher amid favorable U.S. policy signals and crypto-friendly developments.
Bitcoin Price History: Year-by-Year
| Year | Price on Jan 1st (USD) | Price on Dec 31st (USD) * | Notable Events |
| 2009 | — | — | Bitcoin launched; no market price. |
| 2010 | $0.0008 | $0.30 | First real-world transaction: 10,000 BTC for two pizzas. |
| 2011 | $0.30 | $4.25 | Brief surge to $30, followed by crash. |
| 2012 | $4.25 | $13.51 | First Bitcoin halving. |
| 2013 | $13.51 | $751.00 | Price peaks at $1,242 in November. |
| 2014 | $751.00 | $320.00 | Mt. Gox hack; price falls below $400. |
| 2015 | $320.00 | $430.00 | Gradual recovery; stable growth. |
| 2016 | $430.00 | $963.00 | Second halving; steady rise. |
| 2017 | $963.00 | $14,156.00 | Surge to nearly $20,000 in December. |
| 2018 | $14,156.00 | $3,742.70 | “Crypto winter”; significant decline. |
| 2019 | $3,742.70 | $7,193.60 | Recovery to over $10,000 mid-year. |
| 2020 | $7,193.60 | $28,949.00 | COVID-19 pandemic boosts demand. |
| 2021 | $28,949.00 | $46,306.45 | All-time high of $64,800 in April. |
| 2022 | $46,306.45 | $16,547.50 | Market downturn; price volatility. |
| 2023 | $16,547.50 | $43,196.00 | Recovery; price fluctuates between $40K–$60K. |
| 2024 | $43,196.00 | $92,627.28 | Approval of Bitcoin ETFs; first crossing above $100,000 in December. |
| 2025 | $104,781.51 | $106,013.00 | Bitcoin crosses $100,000 multiple times; peaks at $123,091.61 BTC ATH in July 2025. |
BTC Price Predictions from Key Industry Players
High-profile figures had diverse sentiments about BTC price over the years. BlackRock’s Larry Fink, was bullish and predicted BTC to $125,000 or even $700,000 by year-end, stating Bitcoin’s role as a hedge against fiat instability.
Long-term holders and heavy BTC investors like Michael Saylor have even more bold forecasts; he says it could go to $13 million by 2045 as a transformative asset to society.
Even corporations predict multiple outcomes on bitcoin’s price. Galaxy Digital predicts $185,000, while Standard Chartered and Fundstrat’s Tom Lee project $200,000 and $250,000, respectively, boosted by ETF inflows and potential U.S. retirement fund allocations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bitcoin’s $100K Journey
Has Bitcoin ever gone over $100,000?
Yes, Bitcoin surpassed $100,000 for the first time on December 5, 2024, reaching $103,679, and has crossed this threshold multiple times since, with a peak of $111,970 in May 2025.
How much will 1 Bitcoin be worth in 2030?
Predicting Bitcoin’s 2030 price is speculative, with figures like Cathie Wood projecting up to $3.8 million in a bullish scenario driven by institutional adoption. More conservative estimates reflect sustained growth but highlight volatility and regulatory risks.
How high can bitcoin realistically go?
Bitcoin’s potential value could soar if it captures a significant portion of global wealth, potentially rivaling assets like gold. However, such projections depend on widespread adoption and market dynamics.
