Investing.com - Bitcoin cleared the $2,100-level for the first time on Monday to hit a fresh record high, as a monster rally continues amid bullish noises around the future of the cryptocurrency.
Bitcoin rose to a daily peak of $2,105.00 on the New York-based itBit exchange at one point, its highest on record. It was last at $2,100.00 by 4:10AM ET (08:10GMT), up about 5% on the day.
Other big exchanges such as Poloniex, BTC-e, Bitfinex, Kraken and BitStamp also showed the cryptocurrency at around the $2,100-level early Monday.
Since the start of the year, the price of bitcoin has soared 116%, taking the total value of the cryptocurrency in circulation to more than $37.5 billion.
The gains came as Ledger Holdings, the New York-based parent company of bitcoin options exchange LedgerX, said on Monday it closed $11.4 million in funding led by Miami International Holdings Inc and China's Huiyin Blockchain Venture Investments.
The funding supports LedgerX's plan to operate a regulated exchange and clearing house for bitcoin and other digital currencies.
LedgerX is awaiting regulatory approval from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to operate the first U.S. regulated exchange and clearing house for bitcoin options.
On approval, participating institutions can use the LedgerX platform to obtain and hedge bitcoin using exchange-traded and centrally cleared options contracts.
Bitcoin is digital cash and is not backed by a government or central bank to regulate or issue it. It can be used to purchase goods and services from stores and online retailers.