Bitcoin’s stratospheric rise this week follows the digital currency’s embrace by mainstream trading platforms and is seen by some in finance as normal growing pains often experienced by innovative technologies.

A US regulator has cleared the way for bitcoin futures to trade on major exchanges but warned investors the digital currency is prone to elevated risk and volatility.

Two US exchanges, including the parent of the venerable Chicago Mercantile Exchange and CBOE Futures Exchange, are racing to embrace bitcoins.