Bitcoin surged to a record peak of $118,000, propelled by substantial institutional investment inflows, key regulatory approvals, and supportive political remarks.
The momentum stemmed from growing acceptance by major financial institutions, the landmark approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US the previous year offering broad market access, and public endorsement from former President Donald Trump, collectively boosting market confidence and Bitcoin’s valuation beyond $2.25 trillion.
Meanwhile, Germany experienced mixed outcomes. Its government sold 50,000 Bitcoin at an average of $54,000 earlier in the cycle, an expedited disposal which resulted in an unrealized loss of approximately $3.1 billion as the cryptocurrency subsequently rallied towards its new all-time high.
However, on the adoption front, Germany demonstrated progress. State development bank NRW.BANK issued a €100 million ($116 million equivalent) bond using blockchain technology, specifically leveraging the Polygon network. This issuance, executed under the country’s new Electronic Securities Act framework, highlights the tangible benefits of blockchain—notably increased operational efficiency and transparency—for traditional finance.
The pilot bond is viewed as a significant step forward for digital finance infrastructure within the established financial system and could serve as a model for similar adoption initiatives by other jurisdictions.