Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Denver news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Des Moines news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Minneapolis-St. Paul news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Tampa Bay news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Charlotte news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
Bitcoin rocketed past $15,000 Thursday. Photo: Rick Bowmer / AP
Bitcoin rocketed past the $19,000 mark Thursday morning, before falling sharply to $15,000 around where it stayed for most of the afternoon. The surge continues what's been a remarkable week for the digital currency, which broke $13,000 Wednesday. Bitcoin now has a market value of more than $270 billion, per CNBC, meaning it would rank among the 20 largest stocks in the S&P 500.
Why it matters: Bitcoin, which began the year below $1,000, has had a wild streak in recent weeks, leading Wall Street to jump into the ring on Friday. And while some currency experts warn that the Bitcoin's recent price surge has created a bubble, others argue its success is due to delayed recognition by the broader financial community that cryptocurrencies are becoming mainstream.