Bitcoin (BTC) is experiencing a significant surge, trading at approximately $96,856 as of May 3, 2025

Bitcoin (BTC) is experiencing a significant surge, trading at approximately $96856 as of May 3 2025 at 916 a.m

Bitcoin (BTC) price is up 63.8 percent for the year. Here's a look at what's driving the crypto's gains and what analysts are saying about where the coin could trade by the end of 2025.

Bitcoin (BTC) is trading at the $96,856 price level on May 3 at 9:16 a.m. ET.

Bitcoin is up 63.8 percent from the same time last year.

Bitcoin is surging in 2024. The crypto is trading at a massively inflated price compared to last year. A combination of institutional investments, on-chain analytics, and macroeconomic factors have pushed analysts to set ambitious price targets for the cryptocurrency by the end of 2025.

Here's a closer look at what's driving Bitcoin's gains and what analysts are saying about the crypto's future price.

Major financial institutions are increasingly investing in Bitcoin, which may be contributing to its recent price gains. In April, Cathie Wood's investment firm, ARK Invest, revealed in a new filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that it had acquired a new stake in MicroStrategy (NASDAQ:MSTR).

ARK Invest's move comes as several institutions are making significant commitments to Bitcoin. Earlier in April, reports surfaced that the hedge fund manager George Soros had passed control of his family office to his son, Alex Soros, who is known for his interest in cryptocurrency.

On-chain data provides further evidence of Bitcoin's bullish momentum. As of March 2024, the Bitcoin hasHash Rate reached a new all-time high, indicating increased hasher activity and overall network security.

Additionally, on-chain analytics firm Glassnode highlighted that BTC's Netflow has remained positive for 24 consecutive weeks. This metric measures the total value of coins entering and leaving exchanges. A positive reading suggests that more coins are flowing off exchanges into hardware wallets, which is often seen as a bullish indicator.

Several analysts have set price targets for Bitcoin by the end of 2025. In February, Mike Novogratz, the CEO of crypto hedge fund and investment firm Galaxy Holdings, said that he sees Bitcoin trading at the $100,000 price level by the end of 2024.

In March, crypto analyst Il Capo di Via broke down a Fibonacci sequence that suggests Bitcoin could surge to the $200,000 price range by December 2025.

Another analyst, eMarketer, set a more conservative price target of $60,000 for Bitcoin by the end of 2025.

Bitcoin's price movement will depend on several key elements, including macroeconomic conditions, on-chain metrics, and institutional adoption.

Rising interest rates and inflation have supported the dollar and put pressure on equities and cryptocurrencies throughout 2022. However, in 2024, the S&P 500 is up 12.4 percent, while Bitcoin has experienced even more significant gains.

As macroeconomic trends continue to unfold, they will undoubtedly impact Bitcoin's price trajectory in the months ahead.

Several analysts prefer to focus on on-chain metrics to gauge Bitcoin's market strength. These metrics provide insights into the cryptocurrency's supply and demand dynamics, which are less affected by short-term price volatility.

On-chain analysis firm Glassnode highlighted that BTC's Netflow has remained positive for 24 consecutive weeks. This metric measures the total value of coins entering and leaving exchanges. A positive reading suggests that more coins are flowing off exchanges into hardware wallets, which is often seen as a bullish indicator.

According to Glassnode, this sustained positive Netflow is a rare occurrence. The last time it happened for this long was in 2017, during the previous bull market.

Bitcoin is also known for its limited supply, with only 21 million coins to be mined. This scarcity is often cited as a reason why some investors prefer Bitcoin over traditional assets like stocks or bonds.

Those who believe in the long-term value of Bitcoin are expected to continue holding onto their coins, which could limit the amount of selling pressure on the cryptocurrency.

Several institutional investors have made significant investments in Bitcoin, aiming for substantial returns on their investments.

For instance, ARK Invest, the investment firm founded by Cathie Wood, disclosed in a recent filing with the SEC that it had acquired a new stake in MicroStrategy (NASDAQ:MSTR).

MicroStrategy, a software firm, made headlines in 2020 when it began purchasing Bitcoin as part of its treasury management strategy. Since then, Microstrategy has continued to buy Bitcoin, and its CEO, Michael Saylor, has become a vocal supporter of the cryptocurrency.

According to the SEC filing, ARK Invest's bought 96,6