itcoin surged past US$ 17,000 today as the frenzy surrounding the virtual currency escalated just days before it starts trading on major US exchanges. Research company Coindesk said that a wallet address referred to by NiceHash users indicates that about 4,700 bitcoins had been stolen. As of 11:15 am EST, bitcoin was valued at US$ 17,482, according to Coinbase, the largest bitcoin exchange. The surge in the price and the hack of NiceHash occurred just as the trading community prepares for bitcoin to start trading on two established US exchanges. Futures for bitcoin will start trading on the Chicago Board Options Exchange on Sunday evening and on crosstown rival CME Group's platforms later in the month.

Source: dna December 07, 2017 12:58 UTC