Bitcoin will get all of the headlines when individuals discuss cryptocurrencies, however there are actually hundreds of different choices in relation to these digital currencies. In actual fact, cryptos that aren’t Bitcoin are often thought-about an “also-ran” — what are known as “altcoins,” or options to Bitcoin.
Whereas Bitcoin might have been the primary main cryptocurrency to hit the market — it debuted in 2009 — many others have develop into extremely standard, even when not fairly as massive as the unique.
Listed below are the biggest cryptocurrencies by the full greenback worth of the cash in existence, that’s, the market capitalization, or market cap. (Information is from CoinMarketCap.com as of Might 5, 2025.)
Largest cryptocurrencies by market cap
1. Bitcoin (BTC)
- Value: $94,095.24
- Market cap: $1.87 trillion
Because the harbinger of the cryptocurrency period, Bitcoin continues to be the coin individuals typically reference once they discuss digital forex. Its mysterious creator — allegedly Satoshi Nakamoto — launched the forex in 2009 and it’s been on a roller-coaster experience since then. Nevertheless, it wasn’t till 2017 that the cryptocurrency broke into broader standard consciousness. In 2024, the Securities and Alternate Fee (SEC) accredited the buying and selling of ETFs that make investments straight in Bitcoin, giving buyers a simple solution to wager on Bitcoin.
2. Ethereum (ETH)
- Value: $1,804.54
- Market cap: $217.86 billion
Ethereum — the title for the cryptocurrency platform — is the second title you’re more than likely to acknowledge within the crypto area. The system lets you use ether (the forex) to carry out various capabilities, however the good contract side of Ethereum helps make it a well-liked forex.
3. Tether (USDT)
- Value: $0.9999
- Market cap: $149.37 billion
Tether’s value is anchored at $1 per coin. That’s as a result of it’s what’s known as a stablecoin. Stablecoins are tied to the worth of a selected asset — in Tether’s case, the U.S. greenback. Tether usually acts as a medium when merchants transfer from one cryptocurrency to a different. Reasonably than transfer again to {dollars}, they use Tether. Nevertheless, some persons are involved that Tether isn’t safely backed by {dollars} held in reserve however as a substitute makes use of a short-term type of unsecured debt.
4. XRP (XRP)
- Value: $2.13
- Market cap: $124.84 billion
Created by Ripple in 2012, XRP presents a solution to pay in many alternative real-world currencies. XRP might be helpful in cross-border transactions and makes use of a trust-less mechanism to facilitate funds.
5. BNB (BNB)
- Value: $597.68
- Market cap: $84.2 billion
BNB is the cryptocurrency issued by Binance, one of many largest crypto exchanges on the planet. Whereas initially created as a token to pay for discounted trades, Binance Coin can now be used for funds, in addition to buying varied items and companies.
6. Solana (SOL)
- Value: $144.47
- Market cap: $74.86 billion
Launched in March 2020, Solana is a more recent cryptocurrency and it touts its pace at finishing transactions and the general robustness of its “web-scale” platform. The issuance of the forex, known as SOL, is capped at 480 million cash.
7. USD Coin (USDC)
- Value: $0.9999
- Market cap: $61.57 billion
Like Tether, USD Coin is a stablecoin pegged to the greenback, which means that its worth shouldn’t fluctuate. The forex’s founders say that it’s backed by totally reserved property or these with “equal truthful worth” and people property are held in accounts with regulated U.S. establishments.
8. Dogecoin (DOGE)
- Value: $0.17
- Market cap: $25.36 billion
Initially created as a joke after the run-up in Bitcoin, Dogecoin takes its title from an web meme that includes a Shiba Inu canine. In contrast to many digital currencies limiting the variety of cash in existence, Dogecoin has limitless issuance. It may be used for funds or sending cash.
9. TRON (TRX)
- Value: $0.2496
- Market cap: $23.7 billion
TRON is a decentralized blockchain for creating purposes that was established in 2017. Its native token is named TRX. In 2018, the Tron Basis acquired well-known peer-to-peer community BitTorrent.
10. Cardano (ADA)
- Value: $0.6607
- Market cap: $23.38 billion
Cardano is the cryptocurrency platform behind ada, the title of the forex. Created by the co-founder of Ethereum, Cardano additionally makes use of good contracts, enabling id administration.
11. Sui (SUI)
- Value: $3.44
- Market cap: $11.5 billion
Sui was created by former Meta engineers to allow quick transactions whereas charging steady charges. It’s additionally constructed to deal with numerous transactions without delay, which makes it scalable.
12. Chainlink (LINK)
- Value: $13.65
- Market cap: $8.97 billion
Chainlink is a cryptocurrency that powers the Chainlink community, which is used to pay operators for connecting good contracts to real-world knowledge, making it important for DeFi apps.
Backside line
The cryptocurrency market is a Wild West, so these speculating in these digital property shouldn’t put in more cash than they’ll afford to lose. It’s additionally essential to notice that particular person buyers usually commerce in opposition to extremely refined gamers, making it a fraught expertise for novices.
Editorial Disclaimer: All buyers are suggested to conduct their very own impartial analysis into funding methods earlier than investing resolution. As well as, buyers are suggested that previous funding product efficiency isn’t any assure of future value appreciation.
