Ether has outpaced bitcoin on a year-to-date basis.
The leading cryptocurrency hit a new-all time high of $38,286.65, before settling down to $36,004.99, up 5.93% over the last 24 hours.
The price of bitcoin soared to a new-all time high of $37,014.58, before settling back to $36,780.78, up 6.40% over the last 24 hours.
Bitcoin bulls pushed the leading crypto to fresh all-time highs above $35,000 Tuesday night.
Following a torrid December in which the price of bitcoin rose $10,000, three days into the new year it's up another $5,000.
On Nov. 30, bitcoin breeched a nearly three-year high of $19,793. Since then the cryptocurrency has gained more than $11,000.
"I would expect to see bitcoin charge past $30,000 as we enter the new year,” said one market observer.
Institutional investors are perceived to be driving this record-setting run.
The leading cryptocurrency set another all-time high this month.
The event happened just a week after the leading cryptocurrency broke $24,000.