Why has bitcoin soared 140% over the past year?
As a keen observer of the cryptocurrency market, I'm intrigued by the phenomenal rise of Bitcoin over the past year, surpassing even the most optimistic predictions. Could you elaborate on the key factors that have driven this astronomical 140% increase? Is it primarily due to investor confidence in the technology, the increasing acceptance of Bitcoin as a payment method, or perhaps the influx of institutional investors? Additionally, how has the global economic situation and the pandemic impacted Bitcoin's performance? I'm eager to understand the dynamics behind this remarkable surge.