Bitcoin smashes record as it crosses $69K mark for first time

Bitcoin briefly surpassed its record high of $69,000 per unit before it dipped by more than 10% on Tuesday – capping a wild roller coaster ride for the world’s most popular digital coin which has officially emerged from its months-long “crypto winter.”

Bitcoin reached a high of $69,202 on Tuesday – eclipsing the all-time record of $68,999.99 that was set in Nov. 2021 – before retreating to around $62,300 as of 4 p.m. Eastern time.

Other cryptocurrencies such as ethereum, BNB, Solana and Dogecoin appeared to follow bitcoin’s trajectory on Tuesday.

Ethereum, which started the day at $3,698 per unit, rose 3% on Tuesday to $3,815 before it fell below $3,400 – shedding more than 6%.

Despite bitcoin’s late-day dip, things are looking up for investors who have snapped up the digital currency in recent weeks.

Since Jan. 1, bitcoin has gained nearly 40%. In the last year, the cryptocurrency has risen by a whopping 175%.

Bitcoin’s rally is a far cry from the “crypto winter” which began in late 2021, when the digital coin flirted with $70,000 before freefalling to below $16,000 in late 2022.

Since then, bitcoin has been gradually recovering in fits and starts.

Experts told The Post that a regulatory stamp of approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which greenlighted 11 spot exchange traded funds, whetted investor appetites. 

Crypto analysts are also anticipating a “halving” of bitcoin next month.

Halving is a process that takes place every four years in which the rate at which tokens are released is cut in half, along with the rewards given to miners.

Supply of bitcoin is limited to 21 million, of which 19 million have already been mined.

Ted Jenkin, CEO of Atlanta-based financial planning firm oXYGen Financial, told The Post that investors, who are betting on bitcoin while anticipating interest rate cuts by the Fed, should still be cautious.

“Part of the growth is always linked to the frenzy of people chasing a hot category or stock and the law of supply and demand kicks in to drive up price,” Jenkin told The Post.

He compared bitcoin with AI chip maker Nvidia, whose market capitalization crossed the $2 trillion mark thanks to Wall Street enthusiasm over its growth potential.

“Just remember, these are highly volatile early stage technology assets and they will have a ton of volatility,” Jenkin said. 

“Be careful about thinking of this as a get rich quick scheme.”

With Post wires