The introduction of spot Bitcoin ETFs in early 2024 has significantly accelerated institutional adoption, with corporate Bitcoin holdings increasing by 31% to nearly 1 million BTC by year-end.

By the end of 2024, Bitcoin-backed ETFs managed over $129.2 billion in assets, surpassing gold ETFs, which held $128.9 billion, reflecting a growing acceptance of Bitcoin as a store of value.

In 2024, Bitcoin experienced a remarkable surge of 126%, entering mainstream finance with spot ETFs and gaining political support from a pro-crypto U.S. president and Congress members.

Looking ahead to 2025, the outlook remains optimistic, fueled by Bitcoin's bull run, a supportive political environment, and ongoing technological advancements in blockchain.

April 2024 marked Bitcoin's fourth halving, reducing the miner's reward and inflation rate to 0.85%, underscoring Bitcoin's scarcity compared to fiat currencies.

Bitcoin's hashrate reached an all-time high of 790 million TH/s in 2024, showcasing the immense computational power securing the network.

The Lightning Network's capacity grew from $227 million in January 2024 to $500 million by year-end, highlighting its potential for facilitating Bitcoin payments.

The number of merchants accepting Bitcoin surged by 1,400 in 2024, bringing the total to 7,700 locations, with many accepting both on-chain and Lightning payments.

Bitcoin is establishing itself as a viable alternative to fiat currencies, fulfilling two core monetary functions: store of value and means of exchange, though its volatility still limits its role as a unit of account.

Ethereum's modest price growth of 65% in 2024 reflects competitive pressures, as it lags behind faster alternatives like Solana, which enhanced scalability with its Firedancer client.

The 2024 elections saw a rise in pro-crypto candidates, with 247 crypto-friendly candidates elected to the House and 15 to the Senate, improving the legislative landscape for cryptocurrency.

President-elect Donald Trump proposed a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, indicating increasing governmental recognition of Bitcoin's value.