BTC interest is increasing because some Government have started recognizing BTC and there have been a growth and demand of international money transfer from one country to another with BTC
There's a lot of reason why there's more interest now in Bitcoin compared to last year aside from the Government acknowledging the existence of Bitcoin and started regulating exchangers, there are more media attention given this past few days than last year because known personalities like known traders, athletes like boxers and mma fighters, artists, giving positive and negative comments about Bitcoin. Regardless if its negative or positive publicity, its still publicity.
No matter what kind of news they may be, they are still keeping the bitcoin in the hotspot, people started to recognize and realize its existence. And because of the people or popular personalities who kept talking about bitcoin, people that are not interested started to be curious and try to figure out themselves what is bitcoin, but nothing still is for sure, this popularity can also have a good and bad side effects.