Bitcoin Breaks Price Records – Market Info

Over the past two weeks, the cryptocurrency market has experienced growth, with the total market capitalization currently reaching approximately €3.08 trillion. Bitcoin continues to maintain a strong position – its market dominance stands at 64.1%. Market sentiment has significantly improved – according to the Fear and Greed Index, investor mood has shifted towards greed, with the index rising to 72 out of 100.

Altcoins have yet to gain significant momentum – according to the Altseason Index, which currently stands at 14 out of 100, we are in a so-called Bitcoin season, during which Bitcoin captures most of the attention and capital in the market.

Bitcoin Breaks Price Records

Bitcoin, the best-known and largest cryptocurrency on the market, hit the $111,000 mark in the early hours of Thursday (May 22), surpassing its December 2024 high. The growing interest in Bitcoin and the rise in its price was mainly influenced by renewed interest in bitcoin spot ETFs, as well as changing economic signals that are once again drawing investor capital back into risky assets.

According to data from SoSoValue, U.S. spot BTC ETFs saw capital inflows of over $2.8 billion in the first half of May. The largest single-day inflow occurred on May 2, when investors poured more than $674.9 million into spot BTC ETFs.

The improving macroeconomic backdrop has undoubtedly contributed to the market’s rise. The Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4.25% to 4.50%, but its Chair, Jerome Powell, stated last week that the Fed remains ready to respond to evolving macroeconomic indicators if necessary. The Fed likely refrained from cutting interest rates due to concerns about rising inflation. While a temporary 90-day tariff-reduction agreement between the U.S. and China provided some relief, fears of a continued trade war have not been fully eliminated.

Analysts also believe that the inclusion of Coinbase in the S&P 500 index is playing a role in the current rally. “Looking ahead, we believe there is further room for digital assets to rally, especially as Coinbase’s inclusion into the S&P 500 on 19 May draws closer,” Singapore-based QCP Capital wrote in a report last week. “History tells us that index inclusion tends to act as a short-term catalyst, as passive managers adjust their allocations to track the benchmark more closely,” the company added. Source

Metaplanet With Acquisition of Over 1000 BTC

Japanese investment firm Metaplanet has made its second-largest BTC purchase to date since implementing its Bitcoin strategy. On Monday, the company announced it had acquired 1,004 BTC for a total of 15.2 billion yen ($104.6 million), bringing its total reserves to 7,800 BTC—equivalent to roughly $807 million at current market prices.

According to data from BiTBO, Metaplanet holds the largest Bitcoin portfolio among publicly traded companies in Asia and the tenth-largest globally. The company reported a BTC return of 95.6% for Q1 and a 47.8% return so far in Q2. If Metaplanet acquires another 301 BTC, it will surpass Galaxy Digital Holdings, currently ranked ninth with 8,100 BTC.

Metaplanet has been even more aggressive in its strategy this May than in previous months. So far this month, the company has purchased 2,800 BTC. In April, it made four purchases totaling 794 BTC, and in March, it made six acquisitions totaling 1,655 BTC.

The adoption of a Bitcoin-focused strategy has significantly paid off. Shares of Metaplanet Inc. are currently trading at €8.30, a substantial rise from around €1.14 in mid-November—an increase of over 500% in just six months. Source

SEC Chairman Supports Crypto-Industry

Paul Atkins, the new chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), addressed several regulatory concerns related to the cryptocurrency sector in one of his first speeches since assuming office.

In a May 19 speech, Atkins stated that the crypto industry is experiencing a kind of rebirth under the current leadership. He suggested that the SEC would adopt a more open stance and strive to adapt to developments in the digital asset space, while still adhering to its regulations and statutes. Atkins also noted that he had directed SEC staff across departments to begin drafting proposed rules related to digital assets.

Even before Atkins officially took office, the Commission’s actions under newly elected President Donald Trump indicated a likely shift in the SEC’s approach to digital assets compared to that of former chair Gary Gensler. In early 2025, the SEC halted several investigations and enforcement actions against crypto companies and issued new guidance on memecoins and so-called security tokens.

“As I begin my tenure as Chairman, I can tell you that we are getting back to our roots of promoting, rather than stifling, innovation,” said Atkins. “The markets innovate, and the SEC should not be in the business of telling them to stand still.”

Atkins’ remarks come as U.S. lawmakers are debating a proposed bill aimed at creating a regulatory framework for crypto markets. The bill, currently making its way through the House of Representatives, seeks to clarify the roles of the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in overseeing and regulating digital assets. However, until the legislation is passed by Congress and signed into law, the SEC’s rules and guidance on cryptocurrencies may continue to face pushback from affected parties. Source

Tether Surpassed Germany in Bond Holdings

Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin USDT with a market capitalization of over $150 billion, has surpassed Germany in holdings of U.S. Treasury securities. This milestone highlights the benefits of the company’s diversified reserve strategy, which has helped it navigate the volatility of the cryptocurrency market.

According to data from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Tether currently holds U.S. bonds worth $120 billion, making it the 19th largest holder of U.S. Treasuries among all countries.

“This milestone not only reinforces the company’s conservative reserve management strategy but also highlights Tether’s growing role in distributing dollar-denominated liquidity at scale,” wrote Tether in the report.

In 2024, Tether ranked as the seventh-largest purchaser of U.S. Treasuries across all nations, surpassing countries like Canada, Taiwan, Mexico, Norway, Hong Kong, and many others.

Source: Cointelegraph

Tether’s traditional reserve assets helped the stablecoin giant withstand the reduced market volatility in Q1 2025. The company reported over $1 billion in operating profit from traditional investment instruments in the first quarter. Increasing regulatory clarity around U.S. stablecoins could drive further investments into Tether’s dollar-pegged stablecoins, a portion of which will likely be used to further strengthen its reserves. Source

JPMorgan to Allow Clients to Invest in BTC

Jamie Dimon, CEO of one of the world’s largest banks, announced that JPMorgan will soon allow its clients to purchase Bitcoin, although it will not offer custody services. “We are going to allow you to buy it,” Dimon said at JPMorgan’s annual investor day on May 19. “We’re not going to custody it. We’re going to put it in statements for clients.”

According to CNBC, Dimon also reiterated his long-standing scepticism toward crypto assets, emphasizing their potential use in money laundering. Known for his persistent criticism of Bitcoin, Dimon’s statement marks a significant shift. While he clarified that he does not endorse Bitcoin, he acknowledged that he cannot stop people from buying it. Back in 2018, Dimon called Bitcoin a fraud, and in 2021, even as Bitcoin reached $69,000, he still claimed it was worthless.

CNBC further reported that JPMorgan will provide clients with access to Bitcoin through Bitcoin ETFs, citing sources familiar with the matter. Until now, the bank had firmly rejected any involvement in Bitcoin investing, whether through futures or direct purchases. This change in stance is likely a reaction to JPMorgan’s competitor, Morgan Stanley, which recently began offering spot Bitcoin ETFs to selected clients.

Spot BTC ETFs have become one of the most popular funds in the U.S. since their launch in 2024, attracting over $42 billion in capital inflows. Source

Crypto Funds Continue to Grow

Crypto-focused investment products in the United States have attracted over $7.5 billion in capital since the start of 2025, with five straight weeks of positive net inflows signaling rising investor demand for digital assets.

Last week alone, U.S.-based crypto investment funds saw inflows of $785 million, pushing the year-to-date total past the $7.5 billion mark, according to a May 19 report from digital asset manager CoinShares.

Source: CoinShares

The renewed interest and increased appetite for risk assets are largely driven by a White House decision on May 12 to implement a 90-day pause on additional tariffs. The day after the announcement, crypto exchange Coinbase recorded a massive net outflow of 9,379 BTC—the largest of any single day in 2025. According to the head of European research at Bitwise, this indicates that institutional appetite for Bitcoin continues to grow, potentially leading to a strong upward trend in Bitcoin’s price. Source

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