Bitcoin briefly tops Alphabet as fifth most valuable asset at $1.87 trillion

Bitcoin briefly surpassed Google's parent company, Alphabet, to become the world’s fifth most valuable asset. According to data from CompaniesMarketCap, Bitcoin’s valuation reached approximately $1.87 trillion, surpassing Alphabet’s $1.859 trillion. This momentary shift sparked excitement within the crypto industry, with analysts interpreting it as a sign of Bitcoin’s growing acceptance in traditional finance.

Andre Dragosch, Head of Research at Bitwise Europe, highlighted that Bitcoin’s new position makes it increasingly difficult for institutional investors to overlook it in their portfolios. He stated, “[It is] becoming harder and harder for asset managers to ignore [BTC].” However, the flip was short-lived, as Alphabet quickly regained its position, and Bitcoin’s market cap dipped slightly to around $1.856 trillion as of press time.

Despite this temporary setback, Bitcoin remains more valuable than several major assets, including silver, Amazon, Meta, and Saudi Aramco. Nevertheless, it is still relatively small compared to other global asset classes. Real estate is valued at roughly $635 trillion, global debt at $141 trillion, and gold at about $23 trillion.

Bitcoin’s recent surge in valuation follows a strong price rally that saw it climb above $94,000 after a period of sluggish performance. Macroeconomic shifts and investor optimism have supported this upward momentum. One key catalyst was the April 22 statement by US Treasury Secretary Bessent, who emphasized the need to de-escalate tensions with China. His comments suggested a shift in trade trends, which boosted investor appetite for risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.

Simultaneously, US-based spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded a historic $912.7 million daily inflows. This marked the highest single-day ETF inflow since President Donald Trump returned to office, underscoring renewed institutional confidence in crypto. According to the analyst's forecast, the recent price stability and reduced volatility of Bitcoin, especially compared to equities following the April 2 tariff shock, could prompt more public companies to consider crypto in their treasury strategies.