Bitcoin crosses $ 30,000 for the first time in its history
Bitcoin, the first decentralized cryptocurrency, exceeded the $ 30,000 mark on Saturday, January 2.
REUTERS - DADO RUVIC
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
Bitcoin, the first decentralized cryptocurrency, saw its price exceed $ 30,000 on Saturday January 2 for the first time in its history.
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At around 2 p.m. KST, bitcoin was worth $ 31,502.77, according to data compiled by the Bloomberg agency.
It had crossed for the first time
the threshold of 20,000 dollars
last December 16 and had reached new records in recent days by approaching the mark of 30,000 dollars.
"
The appetite for risk
" which is reflected in the purchases of this cryptocurrency "
remains indomitable
", estimated in a note the independent analyst based in Germany Timo Emden, director of Emden Research.
For him, "
in view of the dynamics of the course, more historical highs could follow
".
The recent surge began in late October with the launch of a shopping service, sales and payment
cryptomonnaie
by the giant online payments PayPal.
The interest of investment funds
In addition to this service intended for individuals, investment funds are increasingly interested in this asset in sudden price movements, although they have long been wary of it.
"
Many private investors do not yet dare to approach and remain on the sidelines,
" recalls Timo Enden.
However, analysts at the US bank JPMorgan recently estimated that "
the use of bitcoin by traditional investors is only just beginning
": they compare digital and decentralized currency to gold.
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Other reputable Wall Street bank analysts like Citi have started to follow the cryptocurrency's price.
Dizzying variations
For many followers of bitcoin, the latter draws its appeal from its decentralization: created by a network itself invented by anonymous people in 2008, it therefore does not depend on any institution.
Not being backed by any asset or the economy of any country, the price of bitcoin has however observed dizzying variations.
► Read also:
Bitcoin: a decade of success and turmoil
So in 2017, it started the year at less than $ 1,000, then saw its price soar over the months before a real surge between mid-November and mid-December, when prices had quadrupled in less than a month.
After peaking near $ 20,000 on December 18, 2017, prices then melted throughout 2018, ending that year at just over $ 3,000.
(With AFP)
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