%{{tag.tag}} {{articledata.title}} {{moment(articledata.cdate)}} @{{articledata.company.replace(" ","")}} comment %Cryptocurrencies are marching higher to start the New Year. %Bitcoin (CRYPTO: $BTC ), the largest crypto by market capitalization, is up 2% on Jan. 2 and trading at $96,300 U.S. %Ethereum (CRYPTO: $ETH ), the second biggest cryptocurrency, is up 3% and trading at $3,450 U.S. to start 2025. Smaller cryptocurrencies are seeing even bigger gains, with %Solana (CRYPTO: $SOL ) up 7%, %Dogecoin (CRYPTO: $DOGE ) up 4%, and XRP (CRYPTO: $XRP ) up as much as 11% in early trading. The rise to begin the new trading year appears to be fueled by continued anticipation of a more crypto-friendly administration under incoming U.S. president Donald Trump. Trump has promised crypto-friendly legislation and to develop a strategic Bitcoin reserve for the U.S. government. Analysts remain bullish on the outlook for crypto, with firms such as Galaxy Research predicting large-scale institutional, corporate, and state adoption of Bitcoin and other cryptos in 2025. Galaxy Research is forecasting that Bitcoin’s price will rise to $185,000 U.S. this year and that Ethereum’s price will top $5,500 U.S. The continued popularity of spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track the price of Bitcoin and Ethereum also remain a catalyst for cryptocurrencies, say analysts. Many analysts are forecasting additional spot crypto ETFs in coming years, including potentially for Solana and Cardano (ADA). Bitcoin’s price rose a little more than 110% in 2024, outpacing gains in equities.