Advertisement
UK markets close in 6 hours 42 minutes
  • FTSE 100

    7,720.18
    -2.37 (-0.03%)
     
  • FTSE 250

    19,447.90
    -38.63 (-0.20%)
     
  • AIM

    736.32
    -0.31 (-0.04%)
     
  • GBP/EUR

    1.1690
    -0.0014 (-0.12%)
     
  • GBP/USD

    1.2673
    -0.0056 (-0.44%)
     
  • Bitcoin GBP

    50,116.83
    -3,580.30 (-6.67%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,149.42
    +32.33 (+0.63%)
     
  • DOW

    38,790.43
    +75.63 (+0.20%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    82.47
    -0.25 (-0.30%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,156.40
    -7.90 (-0.37%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    40,003.60
    +263.20 (+0.66%)
     
  • HANG SENG

    16,529.48
    -207.62 (-1.24%)
     
  • DAX

    17,965.53
    +32.85 (+0.18%)
     
  • CAC 40

    8,163.01
    +14.87 (+0.18%)
     

Bitcoin price tracker: live chart

Bitcoin - REUTERS
Bitcoin - REUTERS

The rise of digital cryptocurrency Bitcoin has been spectacular. Defying dire warnings from governments, regulators and central banks the price has accelerated in recent weeks as an ever-growing base of buyers have piled in.

The resulting volatility has been extreme: the price frequently moves by more than 10pc within hours - sometimes less. It is not the only cryptocurrency, but is by far the best known.

The chart below shows how the price of Bitcoin (as measured in US dollars) has changed during the past 12 months.

Investors from all walks of life have caught the bug. The Winklevoss twins Tyler and Cameron, made famous after successfully suing Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, are thought to be the first Bitcoin billionaires after buying $11m worth in 2013 – now worth more than $1.6bn.

ADVERTISEMENT

Speculators of more modest means also made thousands last year as the price climbed by more than 1,500pc since January, smashing through $18,000 in December.

Holders are attracted not only by the potential of making an enormous return in a short space of time, but the challenge the digital currency represents to governments, central and commercial banks.

This latter group appear to have abandoned gold, the traditional "safe haven" asset.

The online search term "buy Bitcoin" is now many times more popular than the equivalent "buy gold" term.

According to historic data, which accounts for total search volumes, "buy bitcoin" is now three times more popular than "buy gold" was even during the 2008-09 market crash - when consumers feared for the safety of their cash.

Bitcoin | Read more
Bitcoin | Read more

Commentators, professional investors and senior bankers have issued warnings over a Bitcoin bubbles. Royal Bank of Scotland chairman Sir Howard Davies told Bloomberg: "All the authorities can do is put up the sign from Dante's Inferno – 'abandon hope all ye who enter here'."

The Reserve Bank of India, the country's central bank, has issued three separate Bitcoin warnings since 2013. Last month the European Central Bank vice president said Bitcoin was a "speculative asset" where investors were "taking that risk of buying at such high prices".

Among investment bankers, JPMorgan Chase chief Jamie Dimon has been among the most vocal. In September he said Bitcoin was a "fraud" and anyone "stupid enough to buy it" would eventually pay the price.

How can I profit from Bitcoin's price falling?
How can I profit from Bitcoin's price falling?

Legendary index investor Jack Bogle also told an audience in New York to "avoid Bitcoin like the plague".

Their fears were born out through a turbulent run during the start of 2018. 

Although, Bitcoin's march into mainstream finance continued with it being listed on important futures markets its value has fallen repeatedly through 2018.