Bitcoin, the online currency used for Internet transactions, topped $ 1,100 on Thursday, its highest level in three years, and continues to aspire to become a safe haven in a context of financial insecurity.
The Thursday record in the Bitcoin Price Index (BPI), an index that records the main exchanges of the currency, confirms its good form after becoming the currency with better results of 2016.
Since its inception in 2009, bitcoin has been very volatile. By 2013 it had reached another record, up to $ 1,165.89, but then lost three quarters of its value before recovering again.
And last August the news of the massive theft of bitcoins by a group of hackers made it fall more than 20%.
Analysts now believe that volatility will decline as volumes rise but also as a result of the stronger dollar and tightening capital controls in many countries around the world.
In recent months, the chaotic withdrawal in India of the two major denomination notes or restrictions in China to buy foreign currency have also helped to increase its value.
Since its inception, the currency has been set to not exceed 21 million units, of which three-quarters have already been created. Bitcoins are created by supercomputers and then redeemed online for products or services.
"Few bitcoins are being created and people see them as a good shelter in the face of the devaluation of their countries' monies, and instead of buying dollars they buy bitcoins," explains Vinny Lingham, director of Civic, a US company specializing in the protection of The digital identity.
"Bitcoin is becoming a safe haven," he adds, citing uncertainty in emerging countries following Donald Trump's victory, and predicts that the currency could reach $ 3,000 by the end of this year.