Bitcoin (BTC) has posted its highest transaction volume since early on 2018 as data points to more and more than investors inbound the marketplace.

Figures from on-chain analytics resource Digital Assets Data highlights Dec 2020 every bit already sparking Bitcoin's second-largest transaction volumes.

BTC transaction book eyes record

At a total of $252.37 billion for the remaining 24 hours of December may yet accept the tally further notwithstanding as it rivals December 2017.

Bitcoin transaction book ane-month chart. Source: Digital Assets Data

Other indicators, such equally the size of unprocessed transactions in Bitcoin'southward mempool and network transaction fees, also propose heightened activeness overall.

As Cointelegraph additionally reported, wallets containing both large and pocket-size balances also continue to increase to unprecedented levels.

Google Trends, meanwhile, has captured the highest levels of search interest in the term "Bitcoin" worldwide since February 2018.

Google search interest in "Bitcoin." Source: Google Trends

The reason, one which is attracting attention from mainstream sources too as seasoned crypto traders, lies in the price balderdash run that is continuing unabated this calendar week. At press fourth dimension, Bitcoin was challenging $29,300 amid a stubborn refusal to consolidate lower.

At $539 billion, the largest cryptocurrency surpassed the market cap yesterday of finance giant Berkshire Hathaway, the CEO of which, Warren Buffett, famously likened Bitcoin to "rat toxicant squared."

Ether continues to outperform

Despite its 290% yr-to-engagement returns, still, Bitcoin however pales in comparison to the performance of the largest altcoin Ether (ETH). As Digital Assets Data confirms, ETH/USD has sealed gains of almost 500% since Jan. 1. Versus the March lows, performance is even stronger.

Bitcoin vs. Ether twelvemonth-to-date returns chart. Source: Digital Assets Information

In a series of tweets on Wednesday, Bobby Ong, creator of cost data site Coingecko, gave his predictions for the crypto market in 2021. Among the major tokens, Ether would meet a return to higher transaction fees simply laissez passer its existing all-fourth dimension high from 2018.

"ETH will break by its $1,500 ATH mainly driven past DeFi. Gas fees will skyrocket again and highlight scalability issues," he wrote.

"Most of the year will be spent coordinating on a Layer 2 scalability solution. My bet will be on ZK Rollup gaining traction towards the end of the year."

For Bitcoin, Ong forecast a cost trajectory towards $100,000, alongside the launch of a long-awaited substitution-traded fund and the first central banking concern calculation Bitcoin to its residual sheet.