Bitcoin rose to a nearly three-year high on Friday, as investors continued to scoop the virtual currency on expectations it could well exceed its all-time peak of just under $20,

Bitcoin surged to $18, (roughly Rs. lakhs), the highest since December , and was last up percent at $18, (roughly Rs. lakhs). It has gained 17 percent so far this week, the largest weekly gain since June , climbing more than percent so far this year.

"Today bitcoin has gotten to a place where institutional investors, banks, and family offices are legitimately pondering involvement as a defence against currency devaluation," said Alex Mashinsky, chief executive officer at Celsius Network, a crypto lending platform.

He added that in , the rally in bitcoin was led by retail investors who were early adopters.

"Because large players, like LINE and PayPal are involved this go around, we can expect more stability than the bubble. This isn't a gold rush anymore," he added.

The bitcoin market now boasts a functioning derivatives market and custody services by established financial institutions. Large firms including Fidelity Investments and Japan's Nomura Holdings have started safeguarding bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies for institutional investors.

Other major cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum and XRP, which often move in tandem with bitcoin, rose percent to $, and three percent to 31 cents, respectively.

© Thomson Reuters

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Cryptocurrency Prices across Indian exchanges