Ether, the digital token of the Ethereum blockchain, is the second-largest cryptocurrency in the world by market value.
Jaap Arriens | NurPhoto via Getty Images
LONDON — The cryptocurrency ether hit a fresh all-time high on Friday, surging past $1,700 for the first time.
Ether, which is the world’s second-largest digital coin by market value, climbed 4.8% to a price of $1,720 just after 8:50 a.m. ET, according to data from CoinDesk.
It comes after bitcoin, the most valuable virtual currency, hit a record high close to $42,000 last month.
Bitcoin more than quadrupled in price over the course of 2020, and is up 29% since the start of 2021. Ether is up about 129% year-to-date.
It comes ahead of the highly-anticipated launch of ether futures contracts from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange next week.
