[unabridged]

Not one mention of an ETF (ie the availability of bitcoin to retail investors). The large run up in December was in anticipation of multiple bitcoin ETFs by major companies, the futures market was just the appetizer. And the fall was caused by the SEC putting them on hold.

[jraines]

not true. That happened in early-mid 2017. Yes, there were more applications late in the year, but the run up in Nov/Dec was just mania (Coinbase #1 on app store). Yes, volume manipulation, tethers, etc, etc, but that retail speculator mania was the main thing.