Those with even the shortest memory will recall that Bitcoin price just about broke the $5,000 mark in early September, before a substantial sell-off coincided with some vitriol from Jamie Dimon, and China cracking down on ICOs.
Now, however, the digital currency has bounced back and is well on its way to $5,000 again. There are a few factors that’ve got it here - none more so than the fact it was the best performer through the third quarter.
However, there are still a few factors that are pushing it, and a few reasons why $5,000 is on the horizon, if not even higher.
The return of the buzz
There is no doubting the fact that China’s approach, and Jamie Dimon’s attack, caused a perfect storm for Bitcoin belief. It was the coming together of the digital currencies’ two big enemies - institutionalised money and regulators - who were flexing their muscle in a show of perhaps fear.
However, those attacks have come and gone, and Bitcoin is none the worse for them, as there’s a buzz returning. What will really catalyse it will be a rollback of China’s ban - something that’s possible with an upcoming Communist party election - or perhaps Jamie Dimon to have a change of heart.
Financial crisis
Bitcoin has already shown that it laughs in the face of impending global disaster when the global market fell almost a percent as tension between the US and North Korea spiked.
"Bitcoin is a safe haven that is unaffected by normal market factors, and as these factors continue to escalate there could be a bigger trend towards digital currencies."
Internally, countries like Zimbabwe and Venezuela are hedging their bets on Bitcoin as their markets crumble around them.
Wall Street stamp of approval
While there’s a major dividing line on the allegiances of Wall Street bankers and institutions, many more are coming over to the digital currency side, leaving Dimon and Jordan Belfort stranded.
It was the arrival of institutionalized investors after the Aug. 1 split that saw Bitcoin tear off on another rally, and another big boost of endorsement from these trusted investors could be a tipping point.
Free money
At the end of October there is another fork coming to Bitcoin in the form of Bitcoin Gold, however, the term ‘fork’ is used quite lightly in this instance.
"It’s more of an air-drop than a chain split. Everybody that owns Bitcoin will also own Bitcoin Gold once the network goes live, but transactions on the Bitcoin Gold network won’t affect Bitcoin’s network, or vice versa."
Thus, many think that Bitcoin is booming - and altcoins declining - because there’s a chance of doubling your haul when this fork comes at the end of the month.