Bitcoin hits record $75,345 as traders expect Trump's victory to boost cryptocurrencies

LONDON (AP) — Bitcoin price hit a new high on Wednesday as investors bet on former President Donald Trump's victory in 2020 US presidential election will be a boon for cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin rose nearly 8% in early trading, climbing above $75,000 and surpassing its previous record set in March. Other cryptocurrencies also rose sharply, including Ether, the world's second most popular cryptocurrency after Bitcoin, which rose 8%.

Trump was previously a crypto skeptic but changed his mind and took one favorable view of cryptocurrencies before the election.

He promised to make America the “…” Cryptocapital of the planet” and create a “strategic reserve” of Bitcoin. His campaign accepted cryptocurrency donations and he wooed crypto fans at a Bitcoin conference in July. He also founded World Liberty Financial, a new venture with family members to trade cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin is up 77% this year.

“Bitcoin is the one asset that was always going to rise if Trump returned to the White House,” said Russ Mold, investment director at AJ Bell, a British online investment platform. After hitting its new high, the market is now speculating “when, not if, it will break $100,000,” he said.

“Trump has already declared his love for digital currency and crypto traders now have a new narrative to get even more excited about where the price could go,” Mold said.

Crypto industry players welcomed Trump's victory, hoping he would be able to push through legal and regulatory changes they had long advocated for.

Trump had already promised that if elected he would remove Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler, who has led the US government tough crackdown to the crypto industry.

“Tonight the crypto voter spoke decisively – across party lines and in important elections across the country,” said Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges. “Americans are disproportionately interested in crypto and want clear rules for handling digital assets. We look forward to working with the new Congress to make this happen,” Armstrong wrote on X.