Here is some perspective: Beginning the year with a market cap of $15.5 billion, the total value of the Bitcoin market surpassed $50 billion this week, and throughout the year it became bigger than these four companies.
Target - Market cap: $31.8 billion
American Airlines - Market cap: $27.7 billion
Ford Motor Company - Market cap: $43.5 billion
Deutsche Bank - Market cap: $37.7 billion
The takeaway is either way you look at it, Bitcoin, for all its weird and wonderful intricacies is here to stay. More countries are relaxing rules for its use, and at $50 billion it's not far off from overtaking another global bank, Morgan Stanley ($88 billion), or major car maker, General Motors ($52 billion).