Bitcoin climbs above $45,000 for first time since April 2022

Bitcoin stormed above $45,000 on Tuesday for the first time since April 2022 as the world’s biggest cryptocurrency started the New Year with a bang buoyed by optimism around possible approval of exchange-traded spot bitcoin funds.

Bitcoin touched a 21-month peak of $45,532, gaining 156% last year in its strongest yearly performance since 2020. It was last up 2.5% at $45,318 but remains far…