Bitcoin's Price Jumped to $102,819 Hitting a Peak Not Seen Since Feb. 3

The institutions are here in full force, or so the chatter goes, as corporate players and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) scoop up more BTC from the open market.

On Thursday, bitcoin’s price rose to $102,819, reaching a peak not seen since Feb. 3, and several analysts highlighted a growing wave of institutional involvement as the driving force behind the cryptocurrency’s climb.

As more corporate players and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) continue to scoop up more BTC from the open market, industry chatter has seen institutions cited as a major factor in bitcoin’s bullish run.

With bitcoin cracking the $100,000 mark today, market watchers and crypto industry specialists chimed in with their thoughts on the latest upward run.

“Under the surface, spot ETF flows remain firm, particularly during U.S. hours. Open interest is high but not frothy, and funding is neutral—this is real demand, not leverage-driven price chasing. Exchange balances continue to decline, and onchain accumulation by long-term holders has resumed,” Bitfinex analysts told Bitcoin.com News on Thursday.

The market researchers added: “This is not a melt-up—it’s a structurally supported move. As long as ETF + institutional flows persist and macro stays stable, dips are likely to be brief and bought aggressively. The path of least resistance remains higher.”

Some see this moment as a full-blown plot twist, and Mike Cahill, CEO of Douro Labs—a major contributor to the Pyth Network—told Bitcoin.com News that’s exactly what it is.

“Bitcoin crossing $100K signals a full-on narrative reset: that’s because this milestone cements BTC’s role as a macro asset in institutional portfolios. We’re seeing coordinated flows from ETFs, sovereign wealth funds, and asset managers who increasingly view bitcoin as a hedge against policy uncertainty and a vehicle for long-duration growth. The price action that’s happening right now is just catching up to what the smart money’s been preparing for all year,” Cahill stated.

Joe Burnett — Director of Market Research at crypto financial services firm Unchained — shared in a note to our newsdesk that Strive Asset Management’s newly announced tie-up with Asset Entities (NASDAQ:ASSET) might also be part of the mix.

“Since the Strive announcement, the stock has surged over 700%. This underscores growing market excitement around bitcoin treasury companies—firms that convert balance sheet assets, cash flow, overvalued equity, and even leverage into bitcoin. It’s a powerful new model for capital allocation in a world of broken money,” Burnett disclosed.

Other industry figures weighed in on BTC’s latest price gains and what could be driving them.

“Investors hate uncertainty, but on the flipside, clarity brings confidence,” Head of Finance at Parity Technologies Dave Sedacca, told Bitcoin.com News on Thursday. “Whether it’s Trump revealing positive developments in trade agreements or the FOMC reaffirming their commitment to stable interest rates, these signals help stabilize market sentiment. Combined with BTC’s recent outperformance of gold, BTC is becoming an increasingly attractive asset for institutional investors.”

According to the original Fogo Contributor Doug Colkitt, this rally still has plenty of steam thanks to strong underlying fundamentals.

“$100K is less about hype and more about market structure. We’re finally seeing consistent, institutionally driven demand meet maturing infrastructure—liquid venues, transparent custody, and real settlement rails. Bitcoin’s rally is being fueled by fundamentals, not froth—and that’s what makes this moment more sustainable than previous cycles,” Colkitt added.