The price of bitcoin surged to its highest level in three years today in a rally that some are suggesting will surpass the run-up in 2017.

Therecentsurge coincided with the U.S. presidential election, but bitcoin started to climb before that, trading at $11.406.06 on Oct. 17.

Although bitcoin has not surpassed its record high of $19,783.06 on Jan. 1, 2017, it has hit its all-time record high in terms of market capitalization, sitting at $329.3 billion. More bitcoin has been mined three years after bitcoins price record, boosting its market cap.Market capitalization is a helpful measure for comparing bitcoin to other financial assets, companies or value systems, Peter Chawaga at Bitcoin Magazinenoted.

Whether the current rise of bitcoin is sustainable is another matter. CNBC reportedthat bitcoins climb this year, during which it has risen 137% year-to-date, is down to a number of factors, including government-related COVID-19 stimulus and interest from big-name investors.

The gap between the crypto world and traditional financialinstitutions has closed dramatically, Charles Hayter, chief executive officer of crypto market data provider CryptoCompare, told CNBC. The result is that incumbent players are now fine to play in the digital asset markets. The narrative that is compelling them to do so is this alignment of COVID,monetary policy and political disarray globally.

Coindesk warnedthat the recent highs could result in a sell-off in response. Mike McGlone, senior commodity strategist for Bloomberg Intelligence, while warning thats likely, also described any sell-off as a speed bump to bitcoins long-term trajectory.

Others are predicting near-future record highs for bitcoin.Philip Swift, a bitcoin analyst and the creator of Lookintobitcoin.com told Cointelegraph that he believes that bitcoin will peak at $22,000 for a variety of reasons, including reserves dropping, institutional accumulation and a growing futures market.

Althoughthe prospects for bitcoin come year-end are looking positive, theres next to no chance that it will hit $1 million. The prediction for bitcoins price was famously made by John McAfee when he said in 2017 that he would eat his own dick if bitcoin didnt hit the mark.

McAfee has since deniedmaking the claim and hassaidthat he never believed bitcoin would hit $1 million, but the internet doesnt forget. Theres even a site with a countdown to when McAfee is meant to deliver on his promise.

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In post-election rally, bitcoin surges to its highest price in three years - SiliconANGLE News