Over a decade ago, Bitcoin was the top cryptocurrency globally, both in terms of per-token value and mainstream visibility. Now, in 2025, Bitcoin remains at the top of the crypto food chain. But how exactly has it been able to do this? Many will point to the fact that virtually everyone who enters the crypto space immediately turns to Bitcoin, and this, in turn, is due to a myriad of factors.
First, we have to give credit to Bitcoin’s growing use cases. People will have different reasons for wanting to use cryptocurrency, whether that’s speculative trading, paying for goods and services, saving for the future, or so on. In every single one of these use cases, Bitcoin takes the lead. As the most valuable cryptocurrency in the world and the highest performing asset of the 2010s, it is most people’s top choice when it comes to speculative trading. A bitcoin token acquired a decade ago is worth several thousand times its initial value, and so, it keeps attracting interest. Then there is its acceptance by various merchants.
One notable example is in the online gambling space. Cryptocurrency has really made its name within the gambling space, and most often, Bitcoin is the top token to use. As a recent article points out, many are looking for how to play blackjack with BTC because so many platforms accept it compared to other tokens. Out of every 10 online gambling platforms that take cryptocurrency, most, if not all, will accept Bitcoin. It has also held up in terms of being a hedge against inflation, and thus, more people want to use it.
Bitcoin also enjoys a leg up in that, because it was one of the first tokens to take off, it has been able to maintain its lead. While some altcoins have seen serious competition, Bitcoin was able to capture the market earlier, and now, displacing it in terms of value or even public interest will be very difficult.
Another reason Bitcoin has continued to attract interest is because of growing institutional support. Years ago, cryptocurrency was virtually a dirty word in the mainstream financial sector, and many executives publicly denounced it. Now, with the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States, which was a major milestone for the industry. This not only drove up the price of the token but also led to billions of dollars in investment in it. This signal of support from Wall Street has led many more institutions to throw their weight behind bitcoin, and this shows no signs of stopping.
The fact that Bitcoin has become so big also plays into its interest because it is now even more secure. Based on a proof-of-work consensus, a single person would have to hold over 51% of the network’s computing power to be able to take control of it. That would mean tens, if not hundreds, of billions of dollars in investment, which is virtually impossible. This means, essentially, that the Bitcoin network is unhackable and will remain decentralized. This earns it a lot of respect and trust from both individual and institutional investors. Speaking of the Bitcoin network, the token mechanisms put in place by Satoshi Nakamoto ensure that the token will continue to be valuable well into the future. Specifically, its halving properties mean that every four years, the supply of tokens will reduce, making the tokens already available even more valuable. The fact that the network has this halving to look forward to means that there will always be interest in the lead-up to it and even right after.
Another reason bitcoin continues to attract interest is the fact that it has become the face of cryptocurrency. If you asked a crypto layperson to name a single token, they would probably mention Bitcoin. From President Donald Trump creating a line of Bitcoin-themed merchandise to its public support from the likes of Elon Musk to even being recognized as a currency in places like El Salvador, it has become synonymous with the industry.
All these factors combined mean that Bitcoin essentially carries the torch of the crypto industry, and so, as long as cryptocurrency continues to garner worldwide interest, so will Bitcoin.