Bitcoin powers above $105,000 for first time

featured-image

Dec 16 (Reuters) - Bitcoin surged to a record high above $105,000 in early Asian trade on Monday, extending gains made since Republican Donald Trump , who has promised to champion cryptocurrencies, was elected U.S. president in November.

Bitcoin hit a high of $105,142 and last traded at $104,666. The price rose on news reports over the weekend that Trump would go ahead with a bitcoin strategic reserve fund, according to Tony Sycamore, an analyst at IG. "We're in blue sky territory here," Sycamore said.



"The next figure the market will be looking for is $110,000." Bitcoin has surged more than 50% since the Nov. 5 election that saw Trump elected along with many other pro-crypto candidates.

The cryptocurrency industry spent more than $119 million backing pro-crypto U.S. congressional candidates, hoping to boost those who would pass crypto-friendly bills to promote digital assets.

Trump this month named a White House czar for artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies, former PayPal executive David Sacks , a close friend of Trump adviser and megadonor Elon Musk. Sign up here. Reporting by Kevin Buckland in Tokyo and Lincoln Feast in Sydney; Editing by Lisa Shumaker Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

, opens new tab.