STORY: Bitcoin surged past the $20,000 barrier and was potentially heading for its best day in six months on Friday as the U.S. dollar fell broadly and markets found reasons to be cheerful at the end of a dour week.

Bitcoin, the biggest cryptocurrency by market value, rose more than 10%, a two-week high. If it holds, the daily percentage gain would be the largest since late February.

Ether, the second-biggest, rose more than 5% to hit a three-week peak. Bitcoin had been as low as $18,540 on Wednesday.