Bitcoin is the most famous of the virtual currencies.
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Bitcoin continues to rise.
The first cryptocurrency hit a new record on Wednesday, driven by market appetite for risk, after seeing its value almost quadruple since the start of the year.
Bitcoin cost $ 27,667.81 at around 12:05 p.m. GMT (1:05 p.m. in Paris), hours after hitting an all-time high of $ 28,572.10, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
"Nothing can stop this animal"
"Bitcoin devotees are obviously not afraid of regulations and nothing can stop this animal," commented Naeem Aslam, analyst at Ava Trade.
Another major cryptocurrency, the ripple, has seen its value melt in recent days after a lawsuit launched by the American market policeman, the SEC, against its creators, raising fears of a tightening of regulations on cryptocurrencies.
"But bitcoin is decentralized" and its anonymous creators less easy for regulators to target, notes Aslam, who however warns that, given the dramatic rise in December, a downward correction is likely.
The recent surge started at the end of October with the launch of a cryptocurrency buying, selling and payment service by the online payments giant Paypal.
"The use of bitcoin by traditional investors is just beginning," warned analysts at JPMorgan bank, who compare digital and decentralized currency to gold.
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