Bitcoin passes $6,000 as it nears $100 billion in total market value

Bitcoin surged through the $6,000 level Friday for the first time since the launch of the unregulated virtual currency more than 8 years ago.

The world's most famous cryptocurrency struck a new record high of $6,003.81 Friday afternoon.

After marking a new milestone, bitcoin also neared a total market value of around $100 billion. According to financial data websites, bitcoin boasted a market value of approximately $99.7 billion.

Bitcoin, a virtual currency created from computer code, was worth only a few U.S. cents when launched in 2009 by someone using the Japanese-sounding name Satoshi Nakamoto.

Unlike a real-world unit such as the U.S. dollar or euro, bitcoin has no central bank and is not backed by any government.

Just like other currencies, bitcoins can be exchanged for goods and services, or for other currencies, provided the other party is willing to accept them.

Bitcoin's community of users control and regulate the currency, and the anonymity of transactions that endears it to libertarians has raised concerns that it can be abused by criminals. The lack of transparency has also sparked concerns that the swings in its value may be due to speculative trading.