Live Bitcoin Price Chart
The interactive chart below shows the Bitcoin spot price (BTC/USD) in real-time. Use the timeframe buttons to view Bitcoin price movements across different periods, from intraday to multi-year trends.
Latest Bitcoin News & Analysis
Stay informed with our latest coverage of Bitcoin markets, price movements, halving events, and expert analysis.
How to Invest in Bitcoin
Investors have several options for gaining exposure to Bitcoin, each with different characteristics, costs, and risk profiles.
Cryptocurrency Exchanges
The most direct way to buy Bitcoin is through cryptocurrency exchanges. Popular regulated exchanges include:
Coinbase
User-friendly platform, ideal for beginners. NASDAQ-listed company.
Kraken
Advanced trading features and a strong security track record.
Binance
Largest exchange by volume with a wide range of trading pairs.
Gemini
SOC 2 certified with strong regulatory compliance.
Exchanges allow you to buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin directly in a digital wallet.
Bitcoin ETFs
Bitcoin exchange-traded funds provide convenient exposure to BTC prices through traditional brokerage accounts. Since January 2024, spot Bitcoin ETFs are available in the US:
iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT)
BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, largest by assets under management.
Fidelity Wise Origin (FBTC)
Fidelity’s spot Bitcoin offering.
ARK 21Shares (ARKB)
Partnership between ARK Invest and 21Shares.
Grayscale (GBTC)
Converted from trust to ETF structure in 2024.
These funds hold actual Bitcoin and trade like stocks on major exchanges.
Bitcoin Futures
Bitcoin futures contracts trade on the CME (Chicago Mercantile Exchange) and allow investors to speculate on future Bitcoin prices with leverage. Futures are primarily used by institutional traders and require understanding of contract specifications, margin requirements, and rollover procedures.
Bitcoin Mining Stocks
Bitcoin mining companies offer leveraged exposure to Bitcoin prices. When BTC rises, mining company revenues typically increase. Major publicly traded miners include:
Marathon Digital (MARA)
One of the largest publicly traded Bitcoin mining companies.
Riot Platforms (RIOT)
Large-scale mining operations based in Texas.
CleanSpark (CLSK)
Focused on sustainable and energy-efficient mining practices.
Hut 8 Corp (HUT)
Canadian-based mining and digital infrastructure company.
Mining stocks carry additional risks including energy costs, hardware depreciation, difficulty adjustments, and operational factors.
Self-Custody Wallets
For maximum security and control, investors can store Bitcoin in self-custody wallets:
Hardware Wallets
Ledger, Trezor — cold storage with the highest level of security.
Software Wallets
Electrum, BlueWallet — hot wallets offering greater convenience.
Self-custody means you control your own private keys — “not your keys, not your coins.”
Historical Bitcoin Prices
Understanding Bitcoin’s price history provides context for current valuations and helps identify long-term trends, including the impact of halving cycles.
Bitcoin Price History Chart
Key Price Milestones
| Date | Event | Price |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | First time above $100K | $103,000+ |
| November 2024 | Post-election rally ATH | $99,800 |
| March 2024 | New all-time high (pre-halving) | $73,750 |
| November 2021 | All-time high (previous cycle) | $69,000 |
| December 2017 | First major bull run peak | $19,700 |
| November 2013 | Early adoption peak | $1,150 |
| November 2022 | FTX collapse low | $15,500 |
| December 2018 | Previous bear market bottom | $3,200 |
| July 2010 | First exchange price | $0.08 |
Bitcoin Halving Cycles
Bitcoin’s supply is programmatically limited to 21 million coins, with new issuance cut in half approximately every four years:
| Halving | Date | Block Reward | Price at Halving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Halving | November 2012 | 50 → 25 BTC | ~$12 |
| 2nd Halving | July 2016 | 25 → 12.5 BTC | ~$650 |
| 3rd Halving | May 2020 | 12.5 → 6.25 BTC | ~$8,700 |
| 4th Halving | April 2024 | 6.25 → 3.125 BTC | ~$64,000 |
| 5th Halving | ~2028 (est.) | 3.125 → 1.5625 BTC | TBD |
Historically, Bitcoin has experienced significant price appreciation in the 12–18 months following each halving event.
Bitcoin Key Statistics
What Drives Bitcoin’s Price?
Several factors influence Bitcoin’s price movements:
- Supply & Demand — A fixed supply cap of 21 million creates built-in scarcity
- Halving Events — Periodic reductions in new Bitcoin issuance tighten supply
- Institutional Adoption — ETF approvals and corporate treasury allocations
- Macroeconomic Factors — Inflation, interest rates, and monetary policy shifts
- Regulatory Developments — Government policies and evolving legal frameworks
- Market Sentiment — Fear and greed cycles amplified by social media
- Technological Updates — Network upgrades and Layer 2 solutions like the Lightning Network
- Mining Dynamics — Hash rate fluctuations, difficulty adjustments, and energy costs
Bitcoin vs Gold Comparison
| Feature | Bitcoin | Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Supply | Fixed (21M) | ~2% annual increase |
| Portability | Digital, instant transfer | Physical, requires storage |
| Divisibility | 8 decimal places (satoshis) | Limited |
| Verification | Transparent blockchain | Requires assay |
| History | Since 2009 | Thousands of years |
| Volatility | High | Low |
| Regulatory Status | Evolving | Well-established |
