Crypto is making a comeback in 2025, there are 5 factors fuelling its resurgence

Many have been betting against crypto since the lull it hit in 2022. From a low of $16000 back then, the digital currency recently hit an all-time high of $112,000. Crazy right!

After the frosty scepticism around the “crypto winter,” the digital currency isn’t only thawing out but scripting one of the most powerful comebacks of all time.

Between early 2024 and the middle of 2025, the cryptocurrency market has shown remarkable strength and resilience that has caught even seasoned financial analysts off guard. Not only that, the foundation seems more robust this time around. This time, crypto has the backing of a US President, the investors and players are much bigger, not many scamsters are plaguing the platform, and the technology is more mature.

So, how has crypto been able to spark this revival? If you’re curious, here are the five core pillars shaping the great crypto comeback in 2025.

Trump’s pro-crypto reforms

For years, the biggest question mark hanging over crypto was regulation. Governments around the world viewed crypto with suspicion, and many threatened it with outright bans. The period from 2024 to 2025 has seen this narrative completely flip, led by a seismic shift in the United States’ policy after the election of Donald Trump.

The US administration has moved from hostility to active support. This isn’t just talk; it’s backed by significant actions. In March 2025, an executive order was signed to establish a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, signalling that the world’s largest economy now views Bitcoin as a legitimate strategic asset. Donald Trump even sees the US as a legitimate contender to become the “Crypto Capital” of the world.

The move was then followed by a change in leadership at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) when Gary Gensler was fired, which subsequently dropped its high-profile lawsuit against the crypto exchange Binance. This pivot away from “regulation-by-enforcement” towards creating clear guidelines sent a powerful message of stability and legitimacy to the global market. While challenges remain, increased regulatory oversight and the professionalisation of the industry are actively working to reduce the prevalence of scamsters and enhance investor protection, fostering a greater sense of security for new participants.

This trend isn’t isolated to the US. We’re seeing a global move towards clarity:

The European Union: The comprehensive MiCAR (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulation is now in effect, creating a single, clear rulebook for 27 countries.

Asia & The Middle East: Financial hubs like Hong Kong, Singapore, and the UAE are competing to attract crypto businesses by implementing their own robust, pro-innovation licensing frameworks.

This shift is monumental for the adoption of crypto globally. When governments start building clear, predictable frameworks, it de-risks the entire industry, making it safer and more attractive for businesses and long-term investors.

Institutional money finally arrives

If the 2017 crypto boom was powered by individual retail investors, the 2025 comeback is being funded by the deep pockets of institutional finance. This sudden surge in investors has been triggered by two main reasons.

First, the floodgates were opened by the approval of spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) in the US. Confusing? Well, think of an ETF as a basket of investments you can buy from your regular brokerage account, just like you buy a share in a company. These products, offered by Wall Street giants like BlackRock and Fidelity, provided a simple, regulated, and secure way for people to invest in crypto. The uptake was immediate and immense, with billions of dollars pouring in, demonstrating huge pent-up demand.

Second, a growing wave of public companies–from tech firms to medical device manufacturers–are adopting Bitcoin as a primary treasury reserve asset. Instead of holding all their spare cash in currency that can lose value to inflation, they are allocating a portion to Bitcoin, treating it as ‘digital gold’.

This isn’t just an investment, it’s a fundamental corporate finance strategy, a powerful statement of belief in Bitcoin’s long-term endurance. This move has been further buoyed by a broader macroeconomic outlook where concerns about traditional currency devaluation and the hunt for inflation hedges have steered more capital towards alternative assets like Bitcoin.

Even Trump’s sons have voiced strong opposition to traditional banks, citing experiences of being “debanked.” They criticise the existing financial system as outdated, inefficient, and biased, advocating for cryptocurrency as a superior, decentralised alternative that offers greater financial freedom and control, even predicting that traditional banks could become “extinct” within a decade if they don’t adapt.

Bitcoin hit an all-time high

It’d get too complicated to dive into all of the factors that led to the meteoric rise of Bitcoin in a few months. While the underlying drivers are complex, the simplest and most powerful sign of a comeback is the price itself. In May 2025, Bitcoin’s price surged past $110,000, breaking its previous all-time high from 2021.

This incredible surge wasn’t merely speculative fervour, it was significantly amplified by the Bitcoin Halving event in April 2024. This pre-programmed event, which occurs roughly every four years, cuts the reward for mining new Bitcoin in half. Historically, reducing the supply of new Bitcoin entering the market has created a powerful upward price pressure, especially when demand remains strong or increases.

More than just a number, it’s a huge psychological milestone. The fact that Bitcoin has been able to pull the entire crypto market with it demonstrates that it has been able to navigate and absorb all the negative news and setbacks and emerge with renewed strength and confidence. This record-breaking momentum pushed the total market value of Bitcoin alone to over $2.2 trillion, making it one of the five most valuable assets on the planet! More valuable than many existing companies! This powerful price action captures public attention, validates the conviction of long-term holders, and forces sceptics to re-evaluate their position.

Exploring real-world use

Beyond the politics and price charts, the technology that underpins the crypto world has been quietly getting better, faster, and more useful. While the whole blockchain ecosystem has seen significant upgrades, the most prominent development has been the Pectra upgrade on the Ethereum network. Without getting too technical, this upgrade delivered tangible benefits:

A better user experience: Making digital wallets more intuitive and powerful.

Lower transaction fees: Addressing one of the biggest complaints by making the network cheaper to use.

Greater scalability: Preparing the network to handle a much higher volume of activity in the future.

This maturation is enabling a crucial shift from pure speculation to tangible utility. The best example is the rise of Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenisation. This is the process of creating a digital token that represents a real-world item, like a piece of property, a government bond, or even a fine art collection.

This allows for fractional ownership and makes it easier to trade things that were previously hard to sell. Imagine being able to own a part of the famous Mona Lisa painting. It’s a clear demonstration of how blockchain technology can solve real-world financial problems. Beyond RWA, we’ve also seen a continued expansion in decentralised finance (DeFi), the emergence of innovative AI-driven crypto projects, and a growing adoption of Web3 gaming, all pointing to a broader utility across the crypto landscape.

Faith restored

A healthy market comeback requires validation from two key groups: expert investors who do commentary on assets and bet on the future, and the general public who drive mainstream adoption. In 2025, both returned in force.

The “smart money” of Venture Capital (VC) made a decisive return. After a quiet period, VCs poured over $4.8 billion into crypto start-ups in the first quarter of 2025 alone. They aren’t chasing hype, they are funding foundational technology in areas like blockchain security, decentralised finance (DeFi), and the convergence of AI and crypto. This is a strong, forward-looking indicator that experts see long-term potential.

At the same time, grassroots adoption has continued its steady climb. Surveys now show nearly one in four people in major Western nations own cryptocurrency. This growth is being driven by a younger, tech-native generation that is increasingly comfortable with digital assets. This dual validation, from both the top-down (VCs) and bottom-up (the public), creates a resilient and dynamic market.

Not only that, the crypto ecosystem has been plagued by notoriety due to its association with black market transactions and fraudsters like former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. Crypto has been given a new life and the more it stays away from controversy, the more confidence it will be able to garner for new investors.

Conclusion

The crypto comeback of 2024-2025 feels different but instils more confidence in the asset and its foundational technology. Somehow, this time it feels less about hype and more about fundamentals. While a lot of its success has been driven by the change in narrative in the US government, the combination of regulatory approval, institutional investment, and technological maturation has created a far more resilient market than the one that existed just a few years ago. Volatility will undoubtedly remain part of the crypto story; however, now the narrative has shifted from a speculative fad to an emerging asset class being integrated into the global financial framework.

The Indian perspective

In India, the picture remains one of cautious optimism. Among global investors, India boasts one of the world’s largest crypto user bases, demonstrating immense interest. However, the regulatory environment is still antagonistic. The government’s stance to tax gains from crypto at a flat 30 per cent tax is still among the highest in the world. Not only that, the additional 1 per cent tax deducted at source (TDS) on every transaction has certainly irked many investors in India.

These stringent measures are currently being re-evaluated, with recent discussions indicating the government is exploring a comprehensive crypto policy paper, a sign of its evolving, albeit cautious, stance. The Supreme Court has also weighed in, urging clearer regulation to address the “parallel economy” crypto has created. Unlike many countries like the US and Dubai, India has not made any moves to recognise cryptocurrencies as legal tender and remains focused on developing its own Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), the e-Rupee. After its initial trials in 2022, the digital currency hasn’t gone mainstream till now, though pilot programs have seen increased activity and exploration of use cases beyond simple transactions.

For now, Indian investors and builders operate in a space that is legal but lacks the clear, supportive frameworks seen elsewhere. As India watches the global comeback, particularly the institutional validation, the question remains: should the government choose to soften its tax policies and provide a clearer rulebook?

Disclaimer: Crypto investments are highly volatile and speculative. This editorial is for informational purposes only and not financial advice. We don’t endorse specific investments and aren’t responsible for any losses you might incur. Always do your own research and consult a financial advisor.