The Fintech Effect

Bitcoin’s main rival ethereum hits a fresh record high

Key Points
  • The cryptocurrency hit an all-time high of $425.55 Thursday.
  • Its price has risen by more than 5,000 percent since the start of the year.
Bitcoin's rival ether just hit a fresh record high
VIDEO0:3000:30
Bitcoin's rival ether just hit a fresh record high

Ether, the digital currency of the ethereum blockchain, made significant gains on the day of the Thanksgiving holiday.

The cryptocurrency hit an all-time high of $425.55 Thursday, according to data from industry website Coinmarketcap.

This broke a previous record high of $414.76, which the digital currency's price reached in June.

Ether has risen by more than 5,000 percent since the start of the year. It is the second-largest cryptocurrency, with a market capitalization of more than $40 billion.

The rally followed a prediction from billionaire investor Mike Novogratz that ether would hit $500 by the end of the year, while bitcoin reaches $10,000. Novogratz said that investors are pouring into cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ether because of the lack of trust in financial institutions following the 2008 crash.

Meanwhile bitcoin cash, a virtual currency that resulted from a split in the original blockchain earlier this year, was also rallying. It soared as much as 19 percent Friday, edging as high as $1,789.05. The bitcoin spinoff briefly dethroned ether as the second-largest digital currency earlier this month.

Ether continued this rally into Friday trading, and reached a renewed record high of $450.23 at 10:30 a.m. ET.

WATCH: Six ways to protect your bitcoin and ethereum investments from hackers

Six ways to protect your bitcoin and ethereum investments from hackers
VIDEO3:4003:40
Six ways to protect your bitcoin and ethereum investments from hackers