Bitcoin touched a market capitalisation of $1 trillion as it hit yet another record high on Friday, countering analyst warnings that it is an "economic side show" and a poor hedge against a fall in stock prices.
The world's most popular cryptocurrency jumped to an all-time high just below $55,772, posting a weekly jump of 13%.
It has surged roughly 66% so far this month and was last up 6.8% at $55,079.
Bitcoin's gains have been fueled by signs it is gaining acceptance among mainstream investors and companies, from Tesla Inc and Mastercard Inc to BNY Mellon .
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