Just In: U.S. Senate Passes Bill to Reopen Government as Bitcoin Breaks $106,000

In a surprise late-night move, the U.S. Senate has passed the amended appropriations bill to reopen the government after the longest shutdown in American history, lasting 40 days. As reported by Eleanor Terrett, the bill now heads to the House for approval, where a final vote is expected within hours.

Lawmakers, eager to wrap up before the weekend, moved faster than anticipated. One source familiar with the negotiations summed it up: “I thought they wouldn’t be done until later tonight, but they sped through that. They want out of this town.”

With the Senate now adjourned for the rest of the week, attention shifts to the House, which is expected to follow suit and pass the bill. If all goes as planned, federal operations could restart as early as tomorrow.

Bitcoin Reacts Instantly

News of the deal triggered an immediate reaction in the crypto market. Bitcoin surged past $106,000, marking its highest level in nearly a week. Ethereum followed with a decent jump, and XRP climbed more than 2%.

The shutdown had frozen parts of the economy, delayed regulatory actions, and fueled risk aversion across global markets.

A Familiar Pattern

Historically, government reopenings have coincided with strong bullish sentiment in crypto. The last major shutdown resolution, in early 2020, preceded a broad rally across risk assets — though external factors like the pandemic later disrupted that trend.

With Washington back to work and the Federal Reserve signaling caution on rate hikes, experts are betting that risk appetite could return. Bitcoin holding above the $100,000 support zone is also seen as a bullish sign.

A reopened government would restore funding for key agencies, including the SEC, which plays a crucial role in pending crypto-related decisions such as ETF approvals. The resumption of normal operations could therefore have ripple effects across digital asset markets in the coming weeks.