Artur Widak | NurPhoto | Getty Images Bitcoin surged more than 17 percent in a sudden move on Thursday to above $8,000, according to trading on Coinbase. The cryptocurrency hit a high of $8,011 was trading about 11.5 percent higher near $7,645 as of 8:19 a.m. ET, according to Coinbase. Bitcoin leaped from a low of $6,786 Thursday morning and traders are watching whether it can hold above $7,500. Bitcoin had been suffering from tax-related selling in the run-up to the U.S. tax deadline on April 17. Some traders indicated Thursday's move could be an unwinding of that pressure.