Bitcoin prices moved north on Jul 27, pushing the digital currency to its highest level in almost a year. The largest and most influential cryptocurrency jumped as much as 15% to $10,944, the highest since last August. In fact, the largest digital token settled at around $10,237, the highest level since Jun 1, based on spot prices. Thus, all eyes are now on the critical $10,500 mark, a level that it had failed to hold on to in June and February. But experts believe that bitcoin could head to $15,000 next.

 

Notably, bitcoin last went past $10,000 on Jun 3 and has since seen a persistent decline. But over the past seven days, the digital currency has climbed almost 11%. What’s more, crypto funds too gained as bitcoin broke out from a recent trading range to end at its highest level in two months. The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust climbed more than 10% yesterday, while the Grayscale Ethereum Trust jumped nearly 30%.

 

So what’s behind bitcoin run past the key $10,000 resistance level? The move for the digital currency comes as gold prices scaled northward amid a rush for assets that are considered safe haven and are alternatives to stocks mostly perceived as risky assets. And why so? This is because the coronavirus pandemic has dented profit margins of companies and driven much of the developed world into a deep recession. The virus infected thousands worldwide, disrupted supply chains and restrained movements between countries. 

 

Some experts believe that growth in the so-called stable bitcoin is also due to intensifying tensions between the United States and China that could easily rattle the equity market, the same reason why gold prices have been recently scaling upward as well.

 

The U.S. dollar, in the meantime, weakened due to fresh spikes in COVID-19 cases, which again helped both gold and “digital gold” to rise. Lest we forget, crypto fans have often touted bitcoin as “digital gold.” 

 

Needless to say, when the value of dollar decreases relative to other currencies throughout the globe, the price of gold tends to rise in dollar terms. After all, gold becomes less expensive in other currencies.

 

To top it, several Wall Street bigwigs are showing keen interest in cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. And this bullish approach toward bitcoin is surely driving digital assets. For instance, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM Quick QuoteJPM - Free Report) has introduced JPM Coin, which will be helpful in handling digital settlements. And how can we forget that telecommunication, media and technology service provider AT&T Inc. (T Quick QuoteT - Free Report) has also began accepting crypto payments via a partnership with BitPay.

If you are looking to tap the rising bitcoin trend, you may take a look at the following Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) companies that are making use of bitcoin and technologies that support it, including blockchain. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

 

Microsoft Corporation (MSFT Quick QuoteMSFT - Free Report) , incidentally, is facing stiff competition from Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN Quick QuoteAMZN - Free Report) in the cloud computing space. As a result, the tech behemoth has launched a fully-managed blockchain service, integrated with Azure Active Directory.

 

Microsoft's fiscal fourth-quarter results benefited from momentum in Azure and impressive Teams user growth led by coronavirus-induced work-from-home wave. Microsoft’s Intelligent Cloud division raked in $13.4-billion sales compared to analysts’ estimate of $13.11 billion. Sales also grew 17% year over year (read more: 4 Cloud Stocks to Win Big on Microsoft's Stellar Earnings Show).

 

The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current and next year is 10.4% and 13.1%, respectively. 

 

PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL Quick QuotePYPL - Free Report) , a leader in digital payment processes, sealed a deal with three major bitcoin payment processors, BitPay, GoCoin and Coinbase, to help PayPal merchants accept bitcoin as a mode of payment.

 

PayPal’s two-sided platform, safety and simplicity of transactions, opportunities in the fast-growing mobile space and strategic partnerships are major positives.

 

The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current quarter and year is 41% and 7.4%, respectively. Additionally, the company’s expected earnings growth rate for the next year is 23.4%.

 

Intel Corporation (INTC Quick QuoteINTC - Free Report) is a traditional technology company but has exposure to blockchain technology. Intel’s new Software Guard Extensions (SGX) technology, which offers hardware-based memory encryption that isolates specific application code and data in memory, can help in blockchain transactions as well as AI applications.

 

Intel, no doubt, derives revenues from other sources as well. By the way, Intel’s leading position in the PC market, strength in servers, growing clout in software, IoT & ADAS domains and headway in process technology are indicators of booming prospects.

 

The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the next five-year period is 7.5%.

The COVID-19 outbreak has shifted consumer behavior dramatically, and a handful of high-tech companies have stepped up to keep America running. Right now, investors in these companies have a shot at serious profits. For example, Zoom jumped 108.5% in less than 4 months while most other stocks were sinking. 

 

Our research shows that 5 cutting-edge stocks could skyrocket from the exponential increase in demand for “stay at home” technologies. This could be one of the biggest buying opportunities of this decade, especially for those who get in early.