Quote from: Swordsoffreedom on May 30, 2014, 08:16:11 AM

Big names have been adopting Bitcoin transactions due to coinbase such as Overstock and recently Dish Network
Giving Bitcoin to students at MIT definitely helps as well + Budweiser

That is part of it. There has been a lot of positive news surrounding bitcoin lately. More venture capital input. There is talk of Amazon using a payment service that incorporates bitcoin. There are major news articles with financial analysts suggesting bitcoin will be trading in the $2000-$5000 range by the end of 2014. And people are overcoming their FUD realizing that bitcoin is a good investment.