As cryptocurrency becomes more widespread, Bitcoin reaches a new high of $66,000, setting a new milestone.

(AP) — NEW YORK (AP) — On Wednesday, Bitcoin soared beyond $66,000 for the first time, riding a surge of optimism about the financial establishment’s growing acceptance of the digital currency’s growth.

As of 2:30 p.m. Eastern time, bitcoin was trading at $66,631, up 5.2 percent from its previous high of $66,974.77. It has surged back from a summer low of under $30,000 to break the previous high established in April. According to CoinDesk, the previous all-time high was approximately $64,889 dollars.

The increase has occurred as more businesses, professional investors, and even the government of El Salvador have become interested in Bitcoin, extending its appeal beyond its initial fan base.

The newest crypto converts arrived on Tuesday, when the first exchange-traded fund connected to Bitcoin drew a large amount of interest from investors. In its first day, shares of the ProShares BitCoin Strategy ETF changed hands 24.1 million times. Wednesday got off to a fast start, with volume exceeding 19.6 million in the first three hours of trade.

The ETF does not invest in Bitcoin directly. It instead invests in Bitcoin futures, but the industry expects the ETF to attract a new class of investors…