10 most popular cryptocurrency, you want to know about

• Bankrate
• 2 Aug, 2022

Bitcoin gets all the headlines when people talk about cryptocurrencies, but there are literally thousands of other options when it comes to these digital currencies.

In fact, cryptos that aren’t Bitcoin are usually considered an “also ran” – what are called “altcoins,” or alternatives to Bitcoin.

While Bitcoin may have been the first major cryptocurrency to hit the market – it debuted in 2009 – many others have become highly popular, even if not quite as large as the original.

Here are the largest cryptocurrencies by the total dollar value of the coins in existence, that is, the market capitalization, or market cap. (Data is from CoinMarketCap.com, as of July 25, 2022.)

Largest cryptocurrencies by market cap

1. Bitcoin (BTC)

• Price: $21,891

• Market cap: $418 billion

As the harbinger of the cryptocurrency era, Bitcoin is still the coin people generally reference when they talk about digital currency.
 

Its mysterious creator — allegedly Satoshi Nakamoto — debuted the currency in 2009 and it’s been on a roller-coaster ride since then.

However, it wasn’t until 2017 that the cryptocurrency broke into popular consciousness.

2. Ethereum (ETH)

• Price: $1,521

• Market cap: $185 billion

Ethereum — the name for the cryptocurrency platform — is the second name you’re most likely to recognize in the crypto space.
 

The system allows you to use ether (the currency) to perform a number of functions, but the smart contract aspect of Ethereum helps make it a popular currency.

3. Tether (USDT)

• Price: $1.00
   
• Market cap: $66 billion

Tether’s price is anchored at $1 per coin. That’s because it is what’s called a stablecoin. Stablecoins are tied to the value of a specific asset, in Tether’s case, the U.S. Dollar.

Tether often acts as a medium when traders move from one cryptocurrency to another.
 

Rather than move back to dollars, they use Tether. However, some people are concerned that Tether isn’t safely backed by dollars held in reserve but instead uses a short-term form of unsecured debt.

4. USD Coin (USDC)

• Price: $1.00
   
• Market cap: $55 billion

Like Tether, USD Coin is a stablecoin pegged to the dollar, meaning that its value should not fluctuate.
 

The currency’s founders say that it’s backed by fully reserved assets or those with “equivalent fair value” and those assets are held in accounts with regulated U.S. institutions.

5. Binance USD (BUSD)

• Price: $1.00
   
• Market cap: $18 billion

Binance USD is a dollar-backed stablecoin from top crypto exchange Binance in partnership with Paxos.
 

Binance USD was launched in 2019 and is regulated by the New York Department of Financial Services.

BUSD runs on top of the Ethereum blockchain.

6. Cardano (ADA)

• Price: $0.491
   
• Market cap: $16 billion

Cardano is the cryptocurrency platform behind ada, the name of the currency.
 

Created by the co-founder of Ethereum, Cardano also uses smart contracts, enabling identity management.

7. Solana (SOL)

• Price: $38.37
   
• Market cap: $13 billion

Launched in March 2020, Solana is a newer cryptocurrency and it touts its speed at completing transactions and the overall robustness of its “web-scale” platform.
 

The issuance of the currency, called SOL, is capped at 480 million coins.

8. Dogecoin (DOGE)

• Price: $0.06481
   
• Market cap: $9 billion

Originally created as a joke after the run-up in Bitcoin, Dogecoin takes its name from an internet meme featuring a Shiba Inu dog.
 

Unlike many digital currencies limiting the number of coins in existence, Dogecoin has unlimited issuance. It can be used for payments or sending money.

9. Dai (DAI)

• Price: $1.00
   
• Market cap: $7 billion

Dai is an Ethereum-based stablecoin issued by MakerDAO that is linked to the value of the U.S. Dollar.
 

Dai helps facilitate crypto-collateralized lending using the Maker Protocol. The stablecoin is available on a number of centralized and decentralized exchanges.

10. Polkadot (DOT)

• Price: $7.04
   
• Market cap: $7 billion

Launched in May 2020, Polkadot is a digital currency that connects the technology of blockchain from many different cryptocurrencies.
 

A co-founder of Ethereum is one of Polkadot’s inventors, and some industry watchers believe Polkadot is looking to dethrone Ethereum.

The cryptocurrency market is a Wild West, so those speculating in these digital assets should not put in more money than they can afford to lose.

Volatility has been intense, with crypto assets fluctuating significantly in 2022.

The market has been tumbling since reaching all-time highs in November 2021.

And individual investors can be trading against highly sophisticated players, making it a fraught experience for novices. - Bankrate

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