Bitcoin has exceeded USD18,000 and thus reached its new record-high value in 2020, as a result of demand, affected by perceiving this cryptocurrency as protection against inflation and expecting its wide acceptance as a means of payment.

According to the latest data, the leading global digital currency rose by 3.0 percent, to USD18,175, or the highest level since December 2017.

This year, it has increased by more than 160 percent, and by 17 percent in the last seven days only.

Bitcoin is now close to its maximum value of slightly under USD20,000 recorded in 2017.

In the past 12 months, the most popular cryptocurrency has both skyrocketed and plummeted in its value.

Author: Tanjug