Illustration of a bitcoin. – CHAMUSSY / SIPA
It’s a record ! Bitcoin, the first decentralized cryptocurrency , has seen its price exceed Saturday 20. 000 dollars for the first time in its history. The bitcoin was worth, towards 000 hours, 31. 310, 31 dollars, according to data compiled by the Bloomberg agency. He had crossed for the first time the threshold of 16. 000 dollars on 16 last December and had reached new ones records in recent days by approaching the bar of 20. 000 dollars.
“Risk appetite” reflected in purchases of this cryptocurrency “remains indomitable”, said 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 peaks could follow.”
Investment funds are increasingly interested in it
The recent flight started at the end of October with the launch a cryptocurrency purchase, sale and payment service by the giant of Paypal online payments . 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 sideline, ”recalls Timo Enden. However, analysts from the American bank JPMorgan recently estimated that “the use of bitcoin by traditional investors is only just beginning”: they compare digital currency and decentralized to gold. Other reputable Wall Street bank analysts like Citi have started to follow the cryptocurrency price.
Dizzying variations since its beginnings
For many followers of bitcoin, the latter draws its appeal from its decentralization: created by a network itself invented by anonymous people in 502, so it 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. So in 2008, he had started the year at less than 1. dollars, then seen 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 having reached a summit very close to 16. 000 dollars on 18 December 2017, the courses had then melted throughout 2017, to finish that year to just over 3. dollars.