What if I told you there is an investment opportunity that boasts the same return as Nvidia stock so far this year — and what if I told you it’s independent of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution?

As of July 18, both Nvidia stock and cryptocurrency king Bitcoin (BTC 0.39%) have near-identical gains so far this year. Bitcoin’s surge has propelled its price to nearly $120,000 per coin — an all-time high.

Let’s explore the catalysts behind Bitcoin’s skyrocketing price action this year and detail how investors can get in on the action.

What is fueling Bitcoin’s price surge?

During the past 18 months or so, a number of financial services firms launched spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). These vehicles have seen enormous success, as they provide a more efficient path to investing in Bitcoin — essentially removing much of the friction involved when investing directly in cryptocurrencies.

In addition to greater adoption from financial institutions, corporations have been augmenting their balance sheet liquidity by holding Bitcoin, too.

Beyond Bitcoin, 2025 has witnessed two high-profile initial public offerings (IPO) from crypto-adjacent businesses.

First, Circle Internet Group, which specializes in stablecoins, saw its stock climb as high as 216% since going public last month. Around the same time, a neobank called Chime made its public market debut and also enjoyed a brief pop in its share price.

While neither Circle nor Chime are directly tied to Bitcoin, I think the broader takeaway is that investor enthusiasm for digital finance is on the rise — crypto’s momentum is no exception here, and Bitcoin has been a beneficiary.

Moreover, two crypto-related pieces of legislation have been making the rounds on Capitol Hill as of late: the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (Genius) Act, and the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. Although neither bill centers on Bitcoin specifically, I think that creating more legitimate frameworks around digital assets will encourage more institutional adoption over time. Removing regulatory uncertainties around the crypto market helps set the stage for more meaningful capital inflows into major assets such as Bitcoin down the road.

Lastly, Bitcoin has often been referred to as digital gold, with some viewing it as a hedge to inflation. Although the long-term economic impacts of President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” (now law) remain uncertain, I wasn’t surprised to see Bitcoin’s price begin to kick into gear around the time of the bill’s signing into law — as some investors are likely anticipating inflation or a higher national debt level down the road. This could damage traditional asset prices (i.e., stocks) in the future, making Bitcoin a speculative bet in such an event.

Image source: Getty Images.

At more than $100,000 per coin, is it too late to buy Bitcoin?

Although Bitcoin’s momentum may give it the appearance of an inflated asset, several Wall Street personalities think the joyride is just getting started.

Bitcoin Price data by YCharts

Investment strategist Tom Lee of Fundstrat Global Advisors recently touted a long-term price target of $3 million per Bitcoin. Along similar lines, technology investor Cathie Wood of Ark Invest recently said that Bitcoin could reach $3.8 million per coin by next decade.

In addition, Coatue Management’s Philippe Laffont recently published a report calling for Bitcoin to emerge as the world’s third-most valuable asset by 2030.

If investing directly into Bitcoin does not seem financially feasible, however, keep this in mind: You do not need to shell out six figures to buy Bitcoin. You can invest any amount and technically purchase fractional coins. In addition, spot Bitcoin ETFs and crypto-related stocks such as Coinbase, Robinhood, SoFi, Circle, and many more provide more passive, insulated alternatives to investing in Bitcoin.

Although Wall Street’s forecasts may appear overzealous, the broader theme here is that some of the brightest minds in crypto are overwhelmingly bullish on Bitcoin’s long-term potential — suggesting that it is not too late to invest.