Bitcoin moved above $81,000 during Asian trading, extending its gradual recovery as progress in U.S.-China trade talks lifted regional equities and U.S. stock futures.
The cryptocurrency’s advance followed a decision by the Securities and Exchange Commission that cleared the way for onchain trading of tokenized U.S. stocks. The development helped trigger a short squeeze, adding momentum to Bitcoin’s rise.
NEAR was the strongest major mover, climbing about 23% after its cross-chain swap service recorded heavy activity in ZEC. Daily ZEC trading volume routed through the platform increased sixfold.
Markets across Asia also gained, while U.S. equity futures pointed higher after encouraging discussions between Washington and Beijing. The improved trade outlook supported broader risk appetite.
Oil prices fell during the session, helping to reduce concerns about inflation and contributing to the positive tone across financial markets.
