Bitcoin, the world's biggest and best-known cryptocurrency, is up 20.6% from the year's low of $16,496 on Jan. 1.

Ether, the coin linked to the ethereum blockchain network, rose 2.98% to $1,458.8 on Friday, adding $42.2 to its previous close.

(Reporting by Siddharth Jindal in Bengaluru; Editing by Chris Reese)