Bullish bitcoin traders overpowered bearish ones on Monday, as the much-heralded launch of bitcoin futures further fueled exuberance for the nine-year-old digital currency.

Bitcoin futures expiring in January settled at $18,545 on Monday, up 24% from the first trade value of $15,000, recorded when Chicago-based exchange operator Cboe Global Markets Inc. booted up the new market at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday evening.

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