Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) has had quite the year. It hasn’t all been good, with the digital currency dropping below the $6,000 price mark at the end of June. But recently Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) has redeemed itself, witnessing sTron (available on Binance)g gains over the last week. So that brings up the question of whETHer there are catalysts driving Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) higher. If not now, could there be catalysts at a later date?

Spencer Bogart, the co-founder of Blockchain Capital, a venture capital firm, seems to think so.

Four Catalysts Driving Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) Higher: According to Bogart

There is a better atmosphere in the crypto industry right now. For the first time in a while, people are looking at the BTC price and feeling hopeful, reminiscent. Erik Voorhees is one of these people.

Welcome back $8000 🙂 #Bitcoin (available on Coinbase)
— Erik Voorhees (@ErikVoorhees) July 24, 2018

But that doesn’t mean Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) is where it should be, nor is it close to previous levels, like its high of $19,783.21, achieved in December of last year.

Spencer Bogart, a former Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) analyst, recognizes this, and yet, he told CNBC on Wednesday that he still expects “to see new highs.”

But how? If people are edging away from Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) and towards other cryptocurrencies, how will Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) move higher than $9,000? $10,000? Well, according to Bogart, there are a few potential catalysts driving Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) higher.

1. A Potential Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) ETF

A few days ago, Bitwise announced that it had filed with the SEC for an ETF that would track less than a dozen cryptocurrencies, with one being Bitcoin (available on Coinbase).

Members of the company said that at the rate the market is moving, there’s a chance the SEC would “allow a crypto ETF onto the market.” (However, given recent light, this may still not be happening any time soon.)

2. Increasing Currency Rates

3. Mastercard’s New Patent

Earlier this month, Mastercard announced a new patent regarding Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) transactions. As a result, consumers may one day be charging their purchases (coffee, shopping, travel, you name it!) on their credit cards using Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) (BTC).

4. Global Trade Tensions

Bogart’s Overall Thoughts

Overall, Bogart considers Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) to be a “tinderbox” at the moment. In his interview with CNBC, Bogart concluded that the Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) (BTC) price is “waiting for reasons to go higher.”

Is he right, though? Both about the catalysts driving Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) higher and that the currency is “waiting” to soar?

Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) Price Today

At press time, Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) is selling for $8,202.29, which puts BTC down 0.08% in the past twenty-four hours.