Investing.com - Virtual currency bitcoin pushed higher on Thursday after ending the previous session lower, while bitcoin futures were slightly higher in thin trade on the Cboe Futures Exchange.
On the U.S.-based Bitfinex exchange, Bitcoin was at $16,510 by 05:45 AM ET (10:45 GMT), after sliding 4.6% to $16,181 late Wednesday.
Prices hit a record high of $17,500 on the exchange on Tuesday after starting 2017 at around $1,000. Prices have surged more than 1,600% this year, fueling warnings over an asset bubble.
Cboe bitcoin futures traded up around 0.7% at $17,220. On Wednesday, the futures, which expire in January, settled down 5.7% at $17,055.
Larger exchange CME Group (NASDAQ:CME) is to begin initial listings of bitcoin futures contracts on December 18.
Bitcoin enthusiasts hope the launch of bitcoin derivatives will allow institutional investors to buy into the digital currency trend, helping establish bitcoin as a legitimate asset class and pave the way for an exchange-traded fund.
Elsewhere in cryptocurrency trading, Bitcoin Cash was last at $1,856.70, while Bitcoin Gold was at $344.17.
Ethereum, the second most valuable cryptocurrency by market cap after bitcoin, was at $720 after hitting a fresh record high of $756.21 earlier.