There was a lot of BitCoin related press coverage. This is probably related.
Volatility is high which will harm the adoption of BitCoin by vendors, which will in turn drive the price down when people realize they can't do anything with their BitCoins, etc.
Bitcoin isn't really in the adoption by vendors stage yet. Two things are happening right now that are driving the price:
1) Adoption in politically sensitive markets (drug dealers, disaporas, people in corrupt states, etc) who have no other options.
2) The slow process of the finance world understanding what Bitcoin is, and how to value it.
The first is happening because there is demand for it. The second is happening because global finance organizations seek out and exploit any and all market opportunities.
I think what we'll see in the next few years is that #1 will keep growing, and #2 will cause wild swings in bitcoin prices as we develop the technologies and scholarship necessary to truly reckon Bitcoin's value.
At that point, the markets will have a good bead on the true adoption rate and the market mechanics, which will allow them to converge on a more stable value. Only then will Bitcoin start to become a good medium for broader consumer exchange.
That said, even if it's only ever used for politically sensitive transactions, and it never takes off as a consumer payment service, it will be a very big economy.
Volatility is high which will harm the adoption of BitCoin by vendors, which will in turn drive the price down when people realize they can't do anything with their BitCoins, etc.