New Delhi: Enhanced regulatory oversight in India and other countries seems to be having little impact on spread of bitcoins and other virtual currencies, whose number is fast moving towards a century with a total valuation of close to $13 billion.

A number of new entrants, such as bitgem, catcoin, unobtanium and sexcoin, have arrived on the scene even as regulators across the world grapple with risks posed by such currencies and transactions conducted through them.

At least 93 virtual currencies are at present being used by people across the world over the internet, as also for some offline transactions, and their total valuation has reached $13 billion (over 80,000 crore), out of which bitcoin alone accounts for over $9 billion, according to market estimates.

At end of December last year, the number of virtual currencies stood at 67.

Total value of bitcoin and other such virtual currency trades in India is estimated to be worth only a few crores of rupee as of now, but their usage seems to be growing and NRIs living abroad are expected to be dealing with virtual currencies in a big way.

READMORE:

World's 10 Most Powerful Women In Technology

How To Keep Your Gmail ID Secure From 'Google+ Strangers'