Bitcoin topped $45,000 for first time in nearly two years

Bitcoin surpassed $45,000 for the first time in nearly two years as anticipation of an approval of an exchange-traded fund investing directly in the biggest token intensified. The cryptocurrency jumped as much as 5.2% to its highest level since April 2022 and traded at $45,063 as of 3 p.m. New York time. Other tokens were mixed with Ether, the second biggest, rising as much as 4.1%, and recent high-flyer Solana down 2.2%.

Bitcoin has jumped almost 20% since the start of December as a Jan. 10 deadline for the US Securities and Exchange Commission to give its blessing for a spot ETF Bitcoin draws closer.