The price history of Bitcoin: from its launch in 2009 to its peak in 2025

Since its debut in January 2009, Bitcoin's price has fluctuated like a roller coaster, but over the long term, its trajectory has generally trended upward—as the saying goes, “up and to the right.” Bitcoin ushered in the era of cryptocurrency, though it took quite some time to capture the public’s attention.

Nevertheless, in just over a decade, cryptocurrency—especially Bitcoin—has become one of the most exciting trading opportunities in recent memory. Bitcoin trading has minted many millionaires, and thanks to its steady rise since inception, many traders have profited simply by holding on (or “HODLing”), much like long-term bullish investors.

Despite Bitcoin’s long-term upward trend, it has experienced significant declines. The most recent drop occurred from November 2021 through 2022, as rising interest rates and reduced liquidity in financial markets caused Bitcoin’s price to fall sharply.

Bitcoin was created in the months following the global financial crisis. It was introduced by a mysterious individual or group under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. Early supporters claimed it could shift monetary policy from governments and central banks to a self-governed system.

Bitcoin is famously limited to a maximum supply of 21 million coins. With such a finite supply, increasing demand could send Bitcoin prices soaring. Speculators have poured into the market, hoping to capitalize on expected price increases.

Bitcoin’s price is known to be driven by market sentiment. In times of “greed,” Bitcoin surges on utopian promises, with speculators ignoring the risks of an asset that produces no cash flow. In times of “fear,” Bitcoin seems to lack support, as sellers drive the price down in response to bad news or general market downturns.

Amid all the speculation, it’s important to remember that Bitcoin remains difficult to use for everyday purchases. Major companies that once rolled out Bitcoin payment options have quietly abandoned them. Today, Bitcoin is increasingly viewed not as a medium of exchange but as a store of value—a kind of “digital gold.” Yet gold has served as a store of value for millennia, while Bitcoin has just over a decade of history.

If you're considering holding Bitcoin or other digital assets in your portfolio, it may be helpful to speak with a financial advisor to understand how cryptocurrency fits into your overall financial strategy.

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Bitcoin Price Timeline and Key Trends

January 2009 – July 2013: Bitcoin Is Born and Gains Tech Enthusiast Attention
Bitcoin was officially launched on January 3, 2009. Later that year, the New Liberty Standard Exchange recorded the first exchange rate between Bitcoin and the U.S. dollar. A user on the BitcoinTalk forum traded 5,050 BTC for $5.02 via PayPal, putting the first Bitcoin price at roughly $0.00099—about a tenth of a cent.

Before mid-2010, standard pricing data was scarce because exchanges were not yet established. In July 2010, Bitcoin's price data began to be tracked regularly.

In 2010, the most expensive pizza in history was purchased when someone paid 10,000 BTC for two pizzas. This is widely regarded as the first real-world transaction using virtual currency.

According to historical data from Investing.com, Bitcoin never surpassed $0.40 in 2010 but reached that level in early 2011. By February, it broke the $1 mark. A few months later in May, it briefly surged past $8—an eightfold increase in just a few months.

By June 2011, Bitcoin’s price neared $30, an almost unimaginable gain from just months prior. That marked the year’s high. The rest of 2011 saw prices fall, bottoming out around $2 before closing the year at $4.70. After falling over 90% from its peak, many thought Bitcoin’s hype was over.

In 2012, Bitcoin mostly consolidated and slowly strengthened. In November 2012, Bitcoin underwent its first “halving,” reducing the block reward for miners. The year closed with Bitcoin at $13.50, slightly below the year’s high.

This consolidation laid the foundation for a strong 2013. Interest in Bitcoin spread beyond tech enthusiasts, and the world’s first Bitcoin ATM was installed in Vancouver. By January’s end, Bitcoin had surpassed $20.

By early March, the price doubled again, crossing $40. It soon hit $50, $60, and $70 within days. In April, Bitcoin topped $100—and just eight days later, it hit $230.

One week later, Bitcoin dropped to $68. Another week later, it rebounded above $150. After volatile trading in April and May, Bitcoin stabilized in June and July. This period marked a high point for Bitcoin’s volatility.

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August 2013 – December 2017: Bitcoin Gains Public Attention
After consolidating for months, Bitcoin hit new highs in November 2013. Starting the month at $213, it doubled in just 12 days to nearly $435. By the end of the month, it nearly tripled again to over $1,200, before falling to $805 by year’s end—a decline, but still well above prior levels. Late that year, China’s central bank banned financial institutions from using Bitcoin.

Bitcoin’s trademark volatility continued in 2014. After briefly hitting $1,000 in January, it plunged to $111.60 by February 21—a nearly 90% decline. The drop was driven by issues at Mt. Gox, an early exchange that halted withdrawals and later filed for bankruptcy after losing 744,000 BTC.

Just five days later, Bitcoin spiked back to $593.10—over a fivefold gain in days. The rest of the year saw a slow decline, ending 2014 around $318.

In 2015, Bitcoin started with further declines but saw a slow, steady rise through the year, closing at $430. In November, Bitcoin officially adopted its ₿ symbol.

The first half of 2016 continued with low volatility and consolidation. By June, Bitcoin hit $700, though it dipped back to $600 by November. Then it rose above $700, quickly jumping to $800 and $900. By year’s end, Bitcoin neared $1,000 and broke through it in early 2017—a pivotal year for mainstream attention.

In early 2017, Bitcoin traded between $1,000 and $1,200. By late April, prices surged, reaching $2,300 by May. Though prices briefly dipped below $2,000 in July, Bitcoin broke $4,000 by mid-August and continued soaring as retail investors piled in.

By September, Bitcoin hovered around $4,000, then jumped past $5,000 and $6,000 by mid-October. On November 2, it crossed $7,000. Weeks later, it broke $8,000, then $10,000, then $13,000, $16,000—and by mid-December, topped $19,000.

Bitcoin futures began trading on the Chicago Board Options Exchange in December, adding legitimacy and drawing more investors.

While the surge raised concerns of a bubble, prices kept climbing as public interest skyrocketed. Bitcoin ended 2017 at $13,850 after reaching an all-time high.

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January 2018 – December 2020: Bitcoin Recovers and Surges Again
After soaring in 2017, Bitcoin entered a downtrend in 2018. After a brief rise early in the year, prices fell nearly 50% by the end of Q1. Most of the year was spent between $6,000 and $8,000, ending 2018 at $3,709—down 73%.

2019 began with Bitcoin searching for direction. After struggling to break $4,000, it did so in April, then surged past $5,000, $6,000, $7,000, and $8,000. In June, it spiked to $13,000 before falling.

By September, Bitcoin fell back below $10,000, drifting downward into year-end to around $7,200.

In 2020, Bitcoin recovered, rising above $10,000 in February. When COVID-19 hit, Bitcoin fell sharply—dropping from $7,935 to $4,826 in one day (March 12), a 39% crash.

By April, it rebounded above $7,000, then $8,000, and finally broke $10,000 in May. After stabilizing for months, Bitcoin surged past $11,000 in July, $12,000 in August, and $13,000 in October. In November, amid Fed liquidity and vaccine optimism, Bitcoin neared $20,000.

Bitcoin soared in December 2020, ending the year at $28,949.

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January 2021 – December 2023: Bitcoin Under Pressure
After a strong finish to 2020, Bitcoin began 2021 with momentum, breaking $64,000 by mid-April. The Fed’s endless liquidity fueled optimism in crypto and equities alike.

But in May, China warned crypto buyers and cracked down on the industry. It banned financial institutions and payment platforms from handling crypto transactions.

This triggered a sharp drop, with Bitcoin losing over 50% of its value in a few months.

In September, China declared all crypto transactions illegal and banned foreign platforms from serving Chinese users. Despite this, Bitcoin rebounded to over $60,000 and hit an all-time high of $68,789 on November 10, 2021.

Later that year, the Fed announced plans to taper bond purchases and reduce liquidity. As inflation soared to multi-decade highs, expectations of interest rate hikes drove 10-year Treasury yields higher.

With falling liquidity, risky assets—like high-growth stocks and Bitcoin—struggled from November onward.

This slump continued into 2022. As inflation rose and central banks moved to hike rates, investors fled risk. Bitcoin held near $40,000 for months, but as the Fed began aggressive rate hikes in March, Bitcoin dropped. By mid-2022, it hovered around $20,000, then fell below $16,000 after the FTX collapse shook investor confidence.

In 2023, as tech stocks rebounded, Bitcoin rose over 50% by mid-June. Despite SEC crackdowns, Bitcoin traded around $26,000 by mid-year and nearly $27,000 by September, before breaking higher at year’s end.

With interest rates peaking around October 2023, Bitcoin began another climb. Rumors of a Bitcoin ETF approval fueled the rally, pushing prices past $42,000 by year-end.

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January 2024 – April 2025: Bitcoin ETF Launches, Trump Wins Reelection
After months of speculation, the SEC approved Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024, allowing 11 fund managers to list them. The ETFs began trading on January 11. Leading up to the launch, Bitcoin peaked near $49,000, then declined in the following weeks.

A flood of money into these ETFs drove Bitcoin to an all-time high of $73,000 in March 2024. Over the summer, prices fell, hovering around $60,000 and dipping below $55,000 in September.

In December, after pro-crypto former President Donald Trump won reelection, market sentiment soared. Bitcoin broke $100,000 for the first time. In January 2025, Trump signed an executive order creating a task force to recommend crypto regulation.

After the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve was formed, prices dipped in March 2025 as traders were disappointed by the lack of clarity on how the U.S. would purchase crypto for the fund.