Bitcoin, the first cryptocurrency, continued its ascent on Wednesday and hit a new record, driven by the risk appetite of the markets, 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.
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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 procedure launched by the US market policeman, the SEC, against its creators, raising fears of a tightening of regulations on cryptocurrencies.
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But bitcoin is decentralized
" and its anonymous creators less easy for regulators to target, notes Naeem 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.
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The use of bitcoin by traditional investors is only just beginning,
" warned analysts at JPMorgan bank, who compare digital and decentralized currency to gold.