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Move over, bitcoin. Ethereum is at an all-time high

Bitcoin prices continued their rebound Monday, rising about 4 per cent to nearly $US59,000 ($76,000). But the world's largest cryptocurrency has been overshadowed lately by its younger sibling, Ethereum.

Ethereum, or ether for short, hit a new record high Monday of about US$3200 ($4122). Ether prices have more than quadrupled in 2021, soaring 325 per cent. Bitcoin has had a great run too this year, doubling in value.

The total value of all Ethereum in circulation is now about $367 billion, according to CoinMarketCap. Bitcoin's market value is US$1.1 trillion ($1.42 trillion).

READ MORE: Tesla's bitcoin bet pays off with $1 billion surge in value

While there are thousands of cryptocurrencies — including the Elon Musk tweet-fuelled Dogecoin — bitcoin and ether account for nearly two-thirds of the entire US$2.3 trillion ($2.96 trillion) global crypto market.

Bitcoin has soared this year in part due to increased adoption by Corporate America. Musk's Tesla and software firm MicroStrategy have bought bitcoin to hold on their balance sheets. Digital payments giants Square and PayPal are letting users buy, sell and hold crypto, too.

But Ethereum has enjoyed an even bigger surge than bitcoin because it is the cryptocurrency of choice for the purchases of many non-fungible tokens, or NFTs — which have taken the art and broader collectibles world by storm.

One NFT piece by digital artist Beeple sold for nearly US$70 million ($90 million) at a Christie's auction earlier this year. Baseball trading card company Topps has gotten into the NFT game by selling virtual cards and is now going public through a merger with a blank check special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC.

READ MORE: 'Britcoin' digital currency being considered by UK

What is Bitcoin?

NFTs often offer fans of an artist, celebrity or athlete unique video and other digital content. Super Bowl champion Tom Brady now has his own NFT company.

And two players selected in this week's NFL Draft, Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith and defensive end Kwity Paye, also launched NFTs. A portion of sales from Smith's NFTs will go to charity, he said. Paye has said that all of his NFT sales are going to a non-profit organisation.

EU drug regulator evaluating Pfizer vaccine for youngsters

The European Union's drug regulator said Monday it has begun evaluating a request by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech to extend approval of their coronavirus vaccine to include children ranging in age from 12 to 15.

The European Medicines Agency's human medicines committee will carry out an accelerated assessment of data submitted by Pfizer and BioNTech and is expected to reach a decision in June, unless it requires extra information, the agency said.

In a statement Friday, the two pharmaceuticals said their request is based on an advanced study in more than 2000 adolescents that showed their vaccine to be safe and effective.

READ MORE: 100 million people fully vaccinated in the US

READ MORE: The world is in the midst of its worst coronavirus outbreak yet

The children will continue to be monitored for longer-term protection and safety for another two years.

The companies' vaccine is currently approved for use in people ages 16 years and older.

Extending that approval to the younger age group could offer younger and less at-risk populations in Europe access to the shot for the first time.

Most COVID-19 vaccines approved by authorities around the world are for adults, who are at higher risk, but health officials believe vaccinating children of all ages will be critical to stopping the pandemic.

Some research has shown that older children may play a role in spreading the virus.

'Disgusting': Scene of alleged double murder left untouched for weeks

Residents north of Brisbane are disgusted by a crime scene left untouched for weeks after an alleged double homicide.

Police investigators and forensics left long ago, leaving locals questioning who was responsible for the cleanup.

Adam Jayson Bird, 24, is accused of shooting 32-year-old Aaron Davis and 23-year-old Daytona James Paul at a Caboolture apartment complex on April 17.

READ MORE: Caboolture double murder accused faces court

A fortnight on, the Lower King Street residents still see a daily reminder of the horror.

"The most upsetting thing, I mean I saw a body outside of my window," Garry, a body corporate secretary who didn't give his second name, told 9News.

The crime scene has been left untouched, with blood still visible on the doorstep and inside the unit where the men were allegedly killed.

Resident Taliah Graham said walking past the scene every day brought back memories and fellow resident Tiana Downie said visiting families saw the blood when they dropped off flowers.

"It's just disgusting, police should have cleaned it up properly," Ms Graham said.

By law, it's the unit owner's job to organise forensic cleaning.

For now, residents are being told to deal with it.

Some said they were considering moving away.