Launched in May, US-based ExchB says that "one of the biggest issues for new buyers of Bitcoin is being able to deposit funds quickly".

To tackle this it is enabling users to walk into bank branches, deposit cash or cheques and e-mail an image of the receipt. Cash clears as soon as the e-mail is verified and cheques usually clear overnight.

The exchange also lets people send cheques in the mail, wire money or use ING Direct's Person2Person system but warns that "even though there are wire transfers and fancy online payments systems, you will pay at least initially with your time or your money to use them".

Bitcoin has been recovering its value over the last few weeks after a hacker attacked another exchange, MT Gox last month using phoney Bitcoins to flood the market and drive down prices from $17.5 to pennies.