After the turmoil of 2014, Bitcoin’s price began to stabilize in 2015, albeit at significantly lower levels, trading mostly between $200 and $300 for a large part of the year before a modest recovery towards year-end. 

While the price action was less dramatic, this year saw continued development in the Bitcoin ecosystem and growing interest from venture capitalists and financial institutions in blockchain technology, the underlying innovation behind Bitcoin. 

Several large companies announced Bitcoin integrations or experiments. Regulatory discussions continued globally, with an increasing understanding that the technology itself held promise beyond just the currency aspect.

Bitcoin Milestones in 2015

• January: Coinbase launched the first regulated U.S. Bitcoin exchange.
• August: A debate around Bitcoin’s block size limit (and thus transaction capacity) intensified, leading to proposals for changes like Bitcoin XT.
• October: The European Court of Justice ruled that Bitcoin exchange transactions were exempt from VAT, treating it like traditional currency for taxation purposes in this regard.
• December: The price of Bitcoin showed signs of recovery, ending the year around $430.
• Throughout the year: Increased venture capital investment in Bitcoin and blockchain companies.