The value of bitcoin virtual currency was down sharply Tuesday, after a major online exchange for the currency abruptly closed its website.
一家在网上交易比特币(bitcoin)的主要公司--Mt.Gox交易公司的网站突然关闭后，这种虚拟货币的币值星期二暴跌。
At the same time, rumors circulating through the Internet suggested that hackers had stolen as much as six percent of all bitcoins from the Mt. Gox exchange.
与此同时，互联网上流传的谣言说，Mt.Gox交易公司所有的比特币中有高达6%已被黑客盗取。
The Japan-based digital currency operator closed its website Tuesday and its offices did not respond to requests for comment. Later, Mt. Gox posted a brief notice saying it closed all transactions to "protect the site" and its users.
这家总部设在日本的数字货币运营商星期二关闭了它的网站，外界请求该公司发表评论，但该公司的办公室没有回应。随后，Mt.Gox 公司上传一条简短通知说，为了保护其网址和用户，该公司停止了全部交易。
Earlier this month, Mt.Gox halted withdrawals of bitcoins, citing “unusual activity,” prompting angry protests from investors.
这个月初，Mt.Gox 公司以“不寻常活动”为由，暂停提取比特币。这项举动立即引起了投资者愤怒的抗议。
Internet reports say that hackers have been secretly stealing bitcoins for years and that Mt. Gox lost 744,000 bitcoins out of 12.4 million currently in circulation.
互联网上的消息说，黑客多年来一直在秘密偷取比特币，使得Mt.Gox公司在流通的1240万个比特币中损失了74万4000个。
One of the websites that follow the price of bitcoin, Bitwat.ch, places its current value at less than $500, down from above $1,200 in November.
一家追踪比特币币值的网站Bitwat.ch 公布的比特币的现有币值不到500美元，而去年11月该网站公布的比特币的币值超过1200美元。
Bitcoin is one of several so-called cryptocurrencies circulating around the world allowing individuals and companies to make digitally coded payments without fees usually charged by financial companies.
比特币是全球流通的几种所谓“加密货币”当中的一种。和其他金融公司通常收取手续费不同的地方是，比特币可以让个人和公司在不用付手续费的情况下，以数字化加密的方式付款。
Since its introduction in 2009, bitcoin has seen several sharp rises and drops in its value.
比特币自从2009年问世以来，币值好几次大起大落。(voanews)
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