Bitcoin Hits US$100K as Ripple Expands U.S. Operations

The new year is off to a roaring start for crypto. Bitcoin has smashed past the US$100K mark, trading around $102K, while Ripple Labs is making bold moves in the U.S. job market. Here’s what’s happening…

Bitcoin Surges Past US$100K

Bitcoin extended its strong start to 2025, hitting a high of US$102,480 on Monday. The rally marks seven straight days of gains, with the world’s largest cryptocurrency up 10% since the start of the year.

Fresh institutional investments and headline-making buys are driving this surge. MicroStrategy boosted its BTC reserves with a $101 million purchase, while Japan's MetaPlanet Asset Management announced plans to grow its holdings to 10,000 BTC by year’s end. We originally wrote about MetaPlanet back in October here.

“It’s clear that institutional confidence in Bitcoin remains strong as we head into 2025,” said Simon Gerovich, CEO of MetaPlanet. “We’re committed to growing our position.”

Ripple’s Hiring Spree in the U.S.

Ripple Labs is ramping up its U.S. presence, with CEO Brad Garlinghouse announcing a hiring spree ahead of what the company expects will be more crypto-friendly policies under the incoming Trump administration.

“We’re seeing a significant increase in U.S.-based deals and partnerships,” Garlinghouse said in a recent post on X. “Our hiring strategy will reflect that growth.”

Ripple’s confidence in upcoming U.S. regulatory changes is plain to see. By donating $5 million worth of XRP tokens to Trump’s inauguration, they’re clearly betting on more crypto-friendly policies coming into play.

Since the election, XRP has shot up by 300%, showing just how eager the market is for a more favourable regulatory environment.

Looking Ahead in Crypto

The crypto world is kicking off 2025 with serious energy. Bitcoin smashed through the $100K mark, AI tokens are seeing big gains, and Ripple is making bold moves—it all sets the stage for an optimistic year.

With regulations shifting and tech constantly evolving, crypto investors have plenty to watch. One thing’s for sure: 2025 is shaping up to be a game-changer for digital assets.