Bitcoin Hits $117K as ETF Inflows Signal Institutional Boom

Bitcoin surged past $117,000 early Friday, notching a fresh all-time high as spot ETF inflows and institutional demand accelerated. The cryptocurrency gained 5.5% to $117,176, with Ether up 7.3% at $2,981.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $1.18B in inflows Thursday—their second-largest daily haul—highlighting deepening institutional participation.

“This rally reflects Bitcoin’s evolution into a mainstream asset,” said Kronos Research’s Vincent Liu. BTSE’s Jeff Mei added that the ATH breakout could mark the start of a prolonged bull cycle, though CPI data next week may introduce volatility.