Until there is a legitimate Bitcoin exchange that is located in the United States and is certified to do business in all 50 states and abides by all the regulations set by the SEC or whoever, I do not think Bitcoins can maintain a higher price... I do not know why people continue to spam its gonna go up to 2k when almost every bitcoin exchange method is either reliant on Bitstamp or simply localbitcoin.
I really don't think the U.S. is the best place to start a new exchange right now with this latest bitcoin witchunt. U.K. and Europe are bitcoin's only hope really. U.S. was where they arrested Ross and precipitated all this madness with their FUD that has done so much damage.
And bitcoin cannot be regulated by the way. New York can type up whatever they want on their court ledgers but they don't count as bitcoin is not dependent upon regulation, that is the reason it was created in the first place.