Bitcoin sinks to new 13-month low

Bitcoin has slumped to a new 13-month low, with the biggest cryptocurrency touching $US5173.23 ($A7070) on the Bitstamp platform.

Bitcoin was last down 5.2 per cent at $US5270 ($A7200).

The cryptocurrency, and other lesser coins including ethereum and XRP, endured a sell-off last week, with some blaming fears that a "hard fork" in bitcoin cash, where the smaller coin that split into two separate currencies, could destabilise others.