In its now 13-year history, there are some milestones that can be said to correlate with the rise of cryptocurrency and Bitcoin. These include, but are not limited to, the year 2011 when the first challengers to Bitcoin's dominance (altcoins) emerged. Another milestone could be around 2016 when ordinary people began to recognize the power of blockchain technology and the Ethereum coin, ETH, became extremely popular. Following the popularity of ETH, there was a frenzy of initial coin offerings (ICOs), which peaked in early 2018, with 1,253 ICOs.
Another watershed moment occurred in 2017 when Bitcoin reached $10,000 and continued to rise. This expansion was fueled in part by a gradual increase in the number of locations where Bitcoin could be spent and traded.

Not insignificantly, the rise in popularity of cryptocurrency in 2017 coincided with the first commercial and investment banks expressing interest in the digital assets sector.

Cryptocurrency started gaining popularity slowly after the creation of Bitcoin in 2009, which marked the beginning of decentralised digital money. At first, it was mainly used by early adopters and technology enthusiasts who were interested in blockchain innovation. Over time, awareness increased as more people discovered its potential beyond traditional banking systems. A major rise in popularity occurred between 2013 and 2017, when Bitcoin experienced strong price growth and attracted global media attention. The launch of Ethereum in 2015 also played a key role by introducing smart contracts and expanding use cases beyond simple transactions. By 2017, cryptocurrencies had entered mainstream conversations as retail investors joined the market in large numbers. In the following years, improved exchange platforms, institutional involvement, and easier access helped drive wider adoption. Today, crypto is recognised globally as both a digital asset class and an evolving financial technology.