Blockchain is the technology underpinning all cryptocurrencies, and many related products like non-fungible tokens (NFTs). In essence, it is a virtual spreadsheet on which all the buying and selling of crypto is recorded. They are arranged in blocks linked together in a giant chain - hence the name.

The price of bitcoin jumped around 3% briefly on Monday, trading as high as $123,166 — a new record for the crypto. After hitting this level, bitcoin cooled slightly, falling below $120,000. But the attention on crypto looked far from over.

The third and final piece of the puzzle is market sentiment. This has the power to move markets up or down extremely quickly. Right now, investors are buoyant. Equity markets are at all-time highs, Bitcoin is at an all-time high, and Nvidia just became the first company to hit a $4 trillion market valuation.

Bitcoin continued its rapid climb and hit another all-time high Monday as U.S. lawmakers begin a week focused on passing pro-crypto legislation. Data from CoinMarketCap showed bitcoin climbed above $123,