SINGAPORE Cyrptocurrency bitcoin leapt as much as 14% to a 2-1/2 year high of $34,283 in early Asia hours on Tuesday, on speculation that the U.S. could soon approve a bitcoin exchange-traded fund.

Bitcoin was last up 10% at $33,030. Smaller rival ether was up 6% at $1,763.

(Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Christopher Cushing)