In mei nam ik poolshoogte toen de New York Stock Exchange de waarde van een bitcoin ten opzichte van de dollar begon bij te houden. Was toen 233.31, ongeveer wat het nu weer is:
The NYSE Bitcoin Index Global Indices:NYXBT
Last Price Day Change
231.47 +2.180.95%
Thu Sep 17, 2015 11:44 AM|USD|Delayed
Het verloop voor NYXBT vanaf eind mei dit jaar, als bijgehouden door CNBC
Volgens CNN Money en andere gelijksoortige websites alsook CoinDesk was die bult daar vanwege Griekenland:
Greeks flock to Bitcoin
Bitcoin exchanges are reporting a surge in interest from Greek users faced with shuttered banks and capital controls.
Ahead of a referendum on creditor proposals for Greek reforms in return for vital bailout funds, this week the country’s banks are shut and a EUR60 daily withdrawal limit has been imposed.
The move appears to have prompted many to turn to cryptocurrencies. Bitstamp says that trades from Greece are currently up 79% on their 10 week average, while German and Chinese-based exchanges are also reporting a surge in users from the troubled country.
Whether Bitcoin is of much immediate use to cash-starved Greeks is debatable: according to CNN Athens is home to just half a dozen merchants - including a yacht rental outfit - that accept it.
Meanwhile, the crisis appears to be having an effect on Bitcoin’s price, with the currency’s value rising from around $245 a week ago to $265. Some are betting on a far bigger surge if Greece leaves the Euro, with Bitpay co-founder Tony Gallippi predicting that the $1000 barrier could be broken.