Could This Be the Catalyst That Sends Bitcoin Up to $200,000 This Year?

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) has been on an incredible run over the past six months, rising by 50% in value and hitting a massive milestone along the way, as it topped $100,000 for the first time ever. Crypto investors have been bullish on the recent election results, hopeful that President Donald Trump will help the digital currency reach even higher levels in the years ahead.

There's a lot of excitement around the cryptocurrency, and the Trump administration has already made a significant announcement that could prove to be a catalyst to drive the price of Bitcoin even higher. Could this recent development fuel the digital coin to a value of $200,000 or higher this year?

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New task force to develop crypto regulations

Earlier this month, acting Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Mark Uyeda announced plans for a task force that will help create and outline "a comprehensive and clear regulatory framework for crypto assets." This is an important development for crypto as a whole as it could help add credibility and legitimacy to digital coins. Setting up a process for registering new coins might help reduce some of the risk that's associated with investing in crypto.

It might also put to rest questions about whether cryptocurrencies need to be registered as securities with the SEC, and what regulations issuers of crypto assets need to follow.

Could this trigger a bull run on Bitcoin?

The price of Bitcoin jumped by more than 4% the day news of the task force came out. Although the development may not necessarily directly impact Bitcoin, any positive news relating to the crypto world is generally positive for Bitcoin as well. Adding legitimacy to cryptocurrencies could sway investors who are on the fence about investing in crypto, and with Bitcoin being the largest digital coin, it may be the default option for investors who want exposure to digital currencies.

If the task force ends up coming up with crypto-friendly rules -- as many investors are expecting will be the case given Trump's favorable comments relating to crypto on the campaign trail and his close relationship with Tesla CEO Elon Musk (who has long been bullish on crypto) -- this could indeed be a significant catalyst that pushes Bitcoin's value higher this year.

Investors, however, should remain cautious because investing in Bitcoin remains risky. Many factors, including interest rates, inflation, economic conditions, and regulatory issues can all potentially weigh on where the digital currency goes in the future. With so many variables to consider, it's by no means a slam dunk that Bitcoin will soar in value this year.

Is now a good time to invest in Bitcoin?

Unless you're willing to take on a high degree of risk, you may still be better off avoiding Bitcoin right now. The cryptocurrency's massive gains in just the past several months suggest expectations are already high that there will be significant reform ahead for crypto. And that may already be priced into Bitcoin's elevated price, which is why I wouldn't expect this news to send the cryptocurrency's value much higher this year. While a modest gain may be possible, I wouldn't expect it to hit $200,000 anytime soon.

Plus, there's a danger that if the Trump administration ends up disappointing crypto investors with less-than-optimal crypto policies or by not prioritizing reform, it could result in Bitcoin giving back some of the impressive gains it has generated in recent months.

Ultimately, this remains a highly speculative asset and investment to be holding in your portfolio. But if you do want exposure to Bitcoin and are OK with the risk, I would suggest only allocating a small portion of your portfolio (i.e., less than 10%) to the digital asset.

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David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin and Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.