Bitcoin Sweet 16: $19 Trillion Transacted, $108,268 ATH, and Spot BTC ETFs

2024: A Year of Milestones for Bitcoin

In early 2025, Bitcoin celebrated its 16th birthday with groundbreaking achievements throughout 2024. The network processed over $19 trillion in transactions, reached an all-time high (ATH) of $108,268.45 and saw the launch of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States.

Bitcoin reversed its multi-year decline in transaction volume in 2024. From $8.7 trillion in 2023, the network’s transaction value more than doubled to $19 trillion.

Riot Platforms’ Vice President of Research, Pierre Rochard, highlighted this rebound’s significance, bringing Bitcoin closer to its 2021 peak of $47 trillion during the last bull market.

Source: Pierre Rochard X

“This year’s figures decisively prove Bitcoin’s role as both a store of value and a medium of exchange,” Rochard posted on his X (formerly Twitter).

Spot Bitcoin ETFs Spark Rally

A major driver of Bitcoin’s 2024 rally was the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. The SEC gave the green light in January, allowing institutional investors to access Bitcoin directly without managing the asset themselves. This long-awaited development fueled Bitcoin’s price and volume growth.

The ETF launch coincided with Bitcoin’s April 2024 halving, which cut mining rewards from 6.25 BTC per block to 3.125 BTC. This reduced supply further boosted demand at a time of increased institutional demand, propelling Bitcoin to new heights.

Bitcoin’s price surged dramatically in 2024. Starting the year at $42,280, it climbed past $91,500 in December and peaked at $108,268.45 on December 17. This marks an annual return of over 121%.

On January 3, Bitcoin briefly hit $98,690, even as 24-hour trading volumes dipped to $35 billion from $56 billion at the end of December. Despite this, Bitcoin held its $1.94 trillion market capitalization, reaffirming its dominance in the crypto space.

Mining and Hashrate Records

Bitcoin’s network security reached unprecedented levels in 2024. The hashrate hit a record 1,000 exahashes per second (EH/s) on January 3 before stabilizing at 775 EH/s.

U.S.-based mining pools like Foundry USA and MARA Pool contributed 38.5% of the hashrate, while China-based pools retained majority control.

This surge in mining activity reflected increased profitability driven by Bitcoin’s price rally and the post-halving reduction in block rewards.

16 Years of Transformation

Bitcoin’s achievements in 2024 cap an extraordinary 16-year journey since its 2009 inception. From settling $0.99 transactions on BitcoinTalkForum to processing trillions of dollars in global trade, Bitcoin’s growth has been exponential.

Bitcoin’s return on investment (ROI) of 989 trillion percent since 2009 dwarfs even Amazon’s legendary 298,666% ROI since its IPO. Its market performance far outpaces that of traditional tech giants like Google and Meta, which are at similar stages of maturity.

Bitcoin’s 16th year underscores its evolution into a mainstream financial asset. The introduction of spot ETFs and record-breaking transaction volumes in 2024 highlight its growing institutional adoption. As Bitcoin matures, it redefines global finance, proving its enduring relevance in a rapidly changing world.