Bitcoin is about to get some time in the Capitol Hill spotlight.

A pair of Senate committees will hold hearings on the policy issues raised by virtual currencies in the coming weeks, according to Senate aides, a development that comes amid growing attention digital forms of money are receiving from government regulators.

Bitcoin, a currency that is essentially a computer code and is not backed by any government, has seen its value surge this year amid growing interest from retailers and investors. But government agencies have also stepped up their oversight of bitcoin amid fears the loosely regulated form of money could be used to facilitate criminal activity.