Bitcoin crosses $100,000 to overtake Amazon as the world’s fifth-largest asset

Bitcoin has crossed the $100,000 price mark, propelling its market capitalisation to new heights and surpassing Amazon to become the fifth-largest asset globally. The digital gold achieved the new feat on Thursday, May 8, 2025, when it surged to over $10,400, with a market cap of about $2.01 trillion, according to data from CompaniesMarketCap.com.

As it stands, the digital asset has edged past Amazon’s valuation of $1.837 trillion and trailing only gold, Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. This achievement underscores its growing legitimacy as a global asset class and its increasing adoption by institutional and retail investors alike.

The rally, which saw the coin climb over 6% in the past 24 hours to break the $100,000 barrier, has been fuelled by a combination of macroeconomic factors, institutional interest, and renewed market optimism. Posts on X captured the excitement, with user @Sina_21st noting:

“Bitcoin just surpassed Amazon to become the 5th largest asset in the world. No CEO, no headquarters, no marketing team. Just code, conviction, and global demand.” Another user, @WatcherGuru, announced, “Bitcoin officially surpasses Amazon to become the 5th largest asset in the world by market cap.”

This milestone follows Bitcoin’s earlier ascent in April 2025, when it briefly overtook Amazon and Google with a market cap of $1.86 trillion, reaching $94,000 per coin. At that time, CoinDesk reported that its rise was driven by easing U.S.–China trade tensions and a broader tech rally, with the crypto outperforming the Nasdaq. However, the recent surge past $100,000 marks a more sustained breakthrough, with its market cap now exceeding $2 trillion, a level it briefly touched in January 2025 when prices hit an all-time high of $109,000 during President Donald Trump’s re-inauguration.

Main reasons for the Bitcoin rally

Analysts attribute its latest rally to several key factors. First, institutional adoption has surged, with U.S. Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recording significant inflows.

On April 22, 2025, CryptoNinjas reported that Bitcoin ETFs saw $936 million in net inflows, the highest daily figure since January, with no ETFs recording outflows. Major players like ARKB (Ark Invest and 21Shares) and FBTC (Fidelity) led the charge, signalling robust institutional confidence. Additionally, corporate accumulation has played a role, with Strategy₿, led by Michael Saylor, announcing a $555 million Bitcoin acquisition on April 21, bringing its holdings to over 538,200 BTC, valued at more than $50 billion.

Macroeconomic shifts have also bolstered its appeal. CoinTelegraph highlighted a “decoupling” from U.S. tech stocks in April, with Bitcoin rallying 15% while the Nasdaq 100 gained only 4.5%. Macro analyst Fejau noted that Bitcoin’s immunity to tariffs, unlike U.S. assets, positions it as a high-beta asset without the tail risks associated with tech stocks. “This market regime is what Bitcoin was built for,” Fejau wrote, emphasising its role as a hedge against economic uncertainty. The Economic Times further noted that sustained ETF inflows, institutional buying, and improving global macroeconomic sentiment have supported Bitcoin’s climb, with technical support at $88,000 paving the way for a test of $100,000.

Bitcoin’s rise has not been without challenges. After peaking at $109,000 in January, its price fell to a low of $76,000 in early 2025 amid geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties. However, the crypto’s resilience has been evident, with a year-to-date gain of over 100% and a 40% increase over the past 12 months, significantly outperforming Amazon’s negative 3.5% return over the same period. Amazon’s stock, closing at $173.18 on April 23, has declined more than 21% year-to-date, highlighting Bitcoin’s superior performance.

The broader crypto market has also benefitted from Bitcoin’s rally, with the total crypto market cap reaching $3.27 trillion, a 37.51% increase from a year ago, according to CoinGecko. Ethereum (ETH), Dogecoin (DOGE), XRP, and Solana (SOL) recorded gains of 7–11% in April, reflecting a rising tide across digital assets. Its dominance, at 61.63% of the crypto market, underscores its leadership in the space.

Looking ahead, crypto enthusiasts are optimistic about the digital gold’s trajectory. @dotkrueger predicted on May 1 that reaching $100,000 would position it above Amazon and Google, a forecast now realised. Others, like @Kellykellam, see Bitcoin evolving into its own asset class, with a “deca-trillion” market cap on the horizon. While gold’s $17.7 trillion market cap remains a distant target, requiring a Bitcoin price of about $857,000, CCN noted that the coin’s growth potential is bolstered by its decentralised design and increasing recognition as “digital gold”.

As Bitcoin cements its place among the world’s top assets, its journey from a niche experiment to a financial powerhouse continues to captivate markets. With no central authority or traditional corporate structure, Its rise challenges conventional financial paradigms, signalling a new era for digital assets.