Bitcoin's value has soared over the past year. [Source: BBC]
Bitcoin’s value surged above $34,000 (£24,850) for the first time on Sunday as the leading cryptocurrency continued to soar.
It put the gain this year at almost $5,000, although by 17:00 GMT the price had drifted lower to about $33,000, according to the Coindesk website.
The rise was put down to interest from big investors seeking quick profits.
It comes after Bitcoin soared 300% last year, with the price of many other digital currencies also rising sharply.
Ethereum, the second biggest cryptocurrency, gained 465% in 2020
Some analysts think Bitcoin’s value could rise even further as the US dollar drops further.
While the value of the US currency rose in March at the start of the coronavirus pandemic as investors sought safety amid the uncertainty, it has since dropped due to major stimulus from the US Federal Reserve. The currency ended last year with its biggest annual loss since 2017.
