As 2024 drew to a close, Bitcoin reached a remarkable milestone, surpassing the $100,000 mark. Over the past year, the cryptocurrency and decentralized finance sectors experienced significant developments, including the approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), the introduction of new crypto-related ETFs, regulatory challenges, and elections.
Cointelegraph’s editorial team, comprised of Savannah Fortis, Gareth Jenkinson, Zoltan Vardai, and Turner Wright, gathered for their podcast, Decentralize with Cointelegraph, to discuss these events and make predictions for 2025. The consensus among the team was that the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs on January 10 served as a critical catalyst for the year, contributing to the surge in Bitcoin’s price.
Jenkinson highlighted the enduring popularity of Bitcoin throughout 2024, dubbing it “Bitcoin summer,” reminiscent of the DeFi summer years ago. This was a year when Bitcoin attracted significant attention, marked by substantial investments and strategic moves by figures like Michael Saylor.
Vardai, having been active in the crypto space since 2017, remarked on the normalization of substantial market movements, such as whales purchasing vast sums without causing significant market disruptions.
Looking ahead to 2025, the team expressed optimism for further growth and innovation, anticipating broader industry recognition, advancements in artificial intelligence, and a potential resurgence of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The editorial team encourages listeners to explore the full podcast for detailed insights and forecasts.
