The world’s most popular cryptocurrency has gained around 160 percent this year LONDON: Bitcoin hit $19,000 on Tuesday for the first time in nearly three years and was just shy touching an all-time high of just under $20,000. The world’s most popular cryptocurrency has gained around 160 percent this year, fueled by a demand for risk-on assets amid unprecedented fiscal and monetary stimulus, hunger for assets perceived as resistant to inflation, and expectations that cryptocurrencies would win mainstream acceptance. Bitcoin has gained over 37 percent in November alone.