Bitcoin hits new record high as warnings grow

[December 15, 2017]    LONDON (Reuters) - Bitcoin blasted to another all-time high of just over $17,750 on Friday, up 8 percent on the day, as concerns grew over the risks of investing in the highly volatile and speculative instrument.

Bitcoin (virtual currency) coins placed on Dollar banknotes, next to computer keyboard, are seen in this illustration picture, November 6, 2017. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

The cryptocurrency's staggering price rises - more than 1,700 percent since the start of the year - have driven worries that the market is a bubble that could burst in spectacular fashion.

Bitcoin has climbed more than 77 percent so far in December alone, putting it on track for its best month in percentage terms since December 2013.

On Friday it reached as high as $17,752.99 <BTC=BTSP> on the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp exchange.

(Reporting by Jemima Kelly; Editing by Tommy Wilkes)

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