Bitcoin has reached new heights, surpassing the $75,000 mark for the first time in its history on Wednesday, fueled by early exit polls from the US presidential election that showed a narrow lead for Republican candidate Donald Trump. The cryptocurrency surged 8.4%, climbing to $75,060, breaking its previous record of $73,750.

Trump’s gains in early voting results-which show him leading in eight states, while Democrat Kamala Harris secured three states and Washington, DC-have given rise to speculation that the Republican candidate may have a favourable stance on cryptocurrencies. Investors have reacted positively, as Trump’s policies are often perceived as more beneficial to the crypto sector compared to Harris, whose policies tend to lean more centre-left.

Bitcoin’s surge was mirrored by other leading cryptocurrencies. Ether saw a 7.2% rise to $2,576, while smaller tokens like BNB, Solana, XRP, and Dogecoin also experienced notable gains. Solana surged by 13.5%, Dogecoin leapt by 21.6%, and other altcoins like Cardano, Shiba Inu, Avalanche, and Chainlink saw increases ranging from 5% to 12.3%. The rally across the board reflects growing optimism about the crypto market, spurred by a mix of political uncertainty and potential policy shifts under Trump’s leadership.

The rise in cryptocurrency prices also coincided with movements in traditional financial markets. The dollar index, which measures the strength of the US dollar against a basket of major currencies, rose by 1.25%, reaching 104.72. This movement suggests that investors may be anticipating inflationary pressure and economic shifts under Trump’s proposed policies, which include tax cuts, restricted immigration, and higher tariffs. Analysts believe these measures could increase inflation and bond yields.

US Treasury yields also moved higher in response to the election exit polls. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed to 4.351%, while two-year yields rose to 4.241%. This uptick signals a potential tightening of the economy under Trump’s administration, which could further push inflation and bond yields upwards, ultimately benefiting risk assets like Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

In the wake of these developments, Bitcoin’s market capitalization surged to $1.445 trillion, reaffirming its position as the world’s largest cryptocurrency. Bitcoin now commands a dominant 59.86% of the total crypto market. Trading volumes also saw a significant increase, with Bitcoin’s 24-hour trading volume soaring by 40.89% to $59.26 billion. Stablecoins, which are pegged to traditional currencies like the US dollar, have seen substantial volume, reaching $100.92 billion, or 92.46% of the total 24-hour crypto market volume.

The ongoing election results, combined with the favourable policies expected under Trump’s potential presidency, have injected fresh energy into the crypto market. Investors are watching closely, as the final election outcome could have lasting implications for both traditional and digital currencies.

Story first published: Wednesday, November 6, 2024, 10:04 [IST]