1. Bitcoin’s Breakthrough: More Than Just Numbers

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room—no, not your uncle during the holiday dinner, but Bitcoin smashing its price records. The year 2020 was a thrilling rollercoaster ride for Bitcoin as it surged past the $20,000 threshold, a milestone that seemed tantalizingly close yet achingly far during the last bull run. But wait, it didn’t stop there! Bitcoin skipped up the price ladder and hit $30,000 and even $35,000. In fact, there are whispers of the cryptocurrency nudging toward an eye-watering $100,000 mark, predicted by the famed stock-to-flow model. Talk about a glow-up!

2. PayPal Gets in on the Action

Remember when PayPal was just the modern way for your grandma to send you $50 for your birthday? In 2020, it decided to crank that up a notch and dived headfirst into the crypto pool. PayPal enabled its 361 million users to buy and manage Bitcoin directly on its platform. Suddenly, your user-friendly neighborhood merchant has a little crypto exposure. The word of the day? Adoption! Even if you might not fully grasp wallets and recovery phrases, PayPal made it simple enough to wade cautiously into the deep end of crypto waters. Who knows? You might come out a Bitcoin whiz!

3. The Halving That Didn’t Halve Much

Now, let’s talk about the Bitcoin halving—a sensationally marketed event that felt a bit anticlimactic. This phenomenon, which slashes the rewards for mining Bitcoin by half, happens every four years and was expected to set the crypto world ablaze. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. While some speculators predicted doom and gloom, the price remained resilient, and the moaning of pessimists fell silent. Maybe this is a sign of maturity in the crypto industry. The scarcity theme was clearer than ever, making Bitcoin look like the gold foil in your grandma’s decorations—hard to find but oh-so-precious.

4. Coinbase: The IPA-IPO Buzz

In a world full of IPO drama, Coinbase decided to strut its stuff on the public stage. With the market conditions ripe and regulators seemingly cooling off, Coinbase got the spotlight it desperately needed. Estimated to be worth around $28 billion, this crypto exchange slingshot into the limelight, allowing investors to dip their toes into crypto equities. Like a first date, it’s all about getting to know each other without too much awkwardness. This move might just pave the way for a whole wave of respectability for crypto companies looking to go public. Cheers to being a unicorn!

5. Ethereum and the DeFi Surge

Last but not least, 2020 was a fantastic year for Ethereum and its decentralized finance (DeFi) sector. The launch of Compound’s COMP token set off a wildfire, making decentralized lending not just a buzzword, but a reality. In no time, the Ethereum ecosystem became a full-blown party, with platforms like Yearn.finance and Uniswap making sure no one stayed home alone. These platforms allowed users to earn interest on their crypto and engage in trading like never before. With Ethereum’s long-awaited upgrade finally in sight, the world was introduced to the exciting prospects of Ether hitting dizzying heights again. And with talk of $2,000 ETH buzzing through the crypto community, it’s safe to say the hype train is pulling into the station!