Best of Markets with Madison: Bitcoin

The price of Bitcoin surpassed US$100,000 this year upon a favourable US election result for the asset. Photo / 123rf

If there was any story that gripped financial markets in 2024, Bitcoin would likely be it.

The cryptocurrency (although Bitcoiners don’t like it being called that), smashed records this year to surpass US$100,000 for the first time.

It followed the launch of exchange-traded funds that made investing in the asset easier for retail investors, and a US election result that favours its future.

Markets with Madison began covering Bitcoin in-depth earlier this year, speaking to its biggest bulls including Michael Saylor and Cathie Wood.

MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor

Markets with Madison visited MicroStrategy’s executive chairman in Washington DC in October to discuss his company’s Bitcoin adoption playbook.

MicroStrategy held about US$45 billion worth of Bitcoin by December, as it kept acquiring it despite the rising price.

In the first part of this interview, Saylor discussed the multiple his stock is commanding above the value of its Bitcoin holdings, and how investors should assess his company’s finances.

The Bitcoin revolution

In the second part of the Saylor interview, he discusses the factors fuelling the asset’s attractiveness among investors.

This episode also explains how Bitcoin is created and its properties.

Ark’s Cathie Wood

One of the more significant moves in Bitcoin this year was the halving event, where the reward earned from mining the cryptocurrency is reduced.

Such an event occurs about every four years and has historically positively impacted its price.

In this episode, Ark Invest chief investment officer Cathie Wood discusses her outlook for the asset upon the halving, and the success of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds that her firm launched alongside other financial players like BlackRock.

Get investment insights from executives and experts on Markets with Madison here on the NZ Herald, on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.

Sponsored by CMC Markets.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this programme is of a general nature, and is not intended to be personalised financial advice.

We encourage you to seek appropriate advice from a qualified professional to suit your individual circumstances.

Madison Reidy is the host of the NZ Herald’s investment show Markets with Madison. She joined the Herald in 2022 after working in investment, and has covered business and economics for television and radio broadcasters.