The seemingly unstoppable rise of Bitcoin continued Tuesday with the cost of a single unit of the digital currency rising above $50,000 for the first time.

The same Bitcoin just one year ago would have cost you $10,000. The price is up almost 200% in the last three months alone.

Bitcoin is rallying as more companies signal the volatile digital currency could eventually gain widespread acceptance as a means of payment. The vast majority of those who have acquired Bitcoin have treated it as a commodity, like gold, with few places accepting it in exchange for goods or services.

Companies have been leery because of BitcoinB次元官网网址檚 volatility and its use by parties who want to avoid the traditional banking system for a myriad of reasons. On Tuesday, the price crossed and recrossed the $50,000 barrier at least a half dozen times before 10 a.m.

Last Monday, however, the electric car company Tesla sent a tremor through the digital currency markets, saying that it was buying $1.5 billion in Bitcoin as part of a new investment strategy, and that it would soon be accepting Bitcoin in exchange for its cars.

Then Blue Ridge Bank of Charlottesville, Virginia, said that it would become the first commercial bank to provide access to Bitcoin at its branches. The regional bank said Wednesday that cardholders can purchase and redeem Bitcoin at 19 of its ATMs.

BNY Mellon, the oldest bank in the U.S., followed a day later, saying it would include digital currencies in the services it provides to clients. Mastercard said it would start supporting B次元官网网址渟elect cryptocurrenciesB次元官网网址� on its network.

While most expect a slow evolution toward widespread usage of bitcoins as currency, Richard Lyons, a finance professor at the University of California at Berkeley, says itB次元官网网址檚 inevitable. Lyons predicts Bitcoin and other digital currencies B次元官网网址渨ill become transactional currencies increasingly over the next five years. ItB次元官网网址檚 not going to happen overnight,B次元官网网址� he said.

Lee Reiners, who teaches fintech and cryptocurrency courses at Duke University School of Law, said BNY MellonB次元官网网址檚 move makes sense because B次元官网网址渢here are now numerous high-net-worth individuals and investment funds embracing crypto as an asset class to be added to their portfolio.B次元官网网址�

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But Reiners believes companies will remain hesitant to accept Bitcoin for payment because of its volatility.

B次元官网网址淚f you were a merchant, why would you accept payment in an asset that could be worth 20% less a day after you receive it?,B次元官网网址� Reiners said in an email.

Investors will have to grapple with that volatility as well. The price of Bitcoin has soared and dipped since its debut on the futures market in 2017. A year ago, Bitcoin sold for below $10,000. Those fluctuations, analysts warn, could wreak havoc on a companyB次元官网网址檚 bottom line and deter investors.

Assuming Tesla bought Bitcoin at the volume-weighted average price of $34,445 in January, the company is sitting on a gain of about 38% with its investment. But in the regulatory announcement unveiling the investment, Tesla warned about the volatility of Bitcoin, its reliance on technology for use and lack of a centralized issuer, such as a government.

B次元官网网址淲hile we intend to take all reasonable measures to secure any digital assets, if such threats are realized or the measures or controls we create or implement to secure our digital assets fail, it could result in a partial or total misappropriation or loss of our digital assets, and our financial condition and operating results may be harmed,B次元官网网址� Tesla said in the filing.

B次元官网网址淭esla is going to have to be very careful and comprehensive in accounting for its Bitcoin investment on its books,B次元官网网址� said Anthony Michael Sabino, a professor of law, at St. JohnB次元官网网址檚 University. B次元官网网址淟ike any other financial asset other than actual cash, it might fluctuate.B次元官网网址�

There appears to be some reluctance among traditional companies regarding Bitcoin, at least as an investment vehicle.

During a recent conference call with investors, General Motors CEO Mary Barra said her company had no plans to invest in Bitcoin, but would continue to B次元官网网址渕onitor and evaluateB次元官网网址� potential use of digital currency.

B次元官网网址淚f thereB次元官网网址檚 strong customer demand for it in the future, thereB次元官网网址檚 nothing that precludes us from doing that,B次元官网网址� Barra said.