bitcoin

The largest British bank becomes the first to impose such a ban. Reports suggest that Lloyds fears that it could end up with unpaid debt if the cryptocurrency falls further.

Japanese cryptocurrency exchange Coincheck shut down trading Friday, after hackers stole hundreds of millions of dollars in digital currency. Financial regulators said they were looking into the loss.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is worried about the rise of new ways to invest in digital currencies like bitcoin. Regulators warn of potential "fraud and manipulation" in proposed funds.

50 Cent agreed to accept bitcoin from people buying his Animal Ambition album. The value of those sales has now skyrocketed: The rapper's holding is worth more than $7.5 million.

Seoul announced that beginning next week, all trading in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ether must be traceable. Authorities also say digital currency exchanges in South Korea will be taxed.

There are hundreds of digital currencies worldwide. The price of the largest, best known one just plummeted by 50 percent. Now, investors are watching for a boom — or a bust.

Zoobia Shahnaz, 27, allegedly bought more than $60,000 in cryptocurrency, got a $22,000 loan and then transferred the money abroad. The Justice Department says she intended to join ISIS in Syria.

January contracts for the skyrocketing digital currency opened at just under $15,500 on Sunday and had spiked to more than $18,000 hours later.

In early October, a single bitcoin cost less than $5,000 on currency exchange sites. A year ago, one could be had for around $730.