1. Bitcoin (BTC)
Current Price: $57,640 USD (as of May 8, 2021)
24-Hour Trading Volume: $66.3B USD
24-Hour Change: +2.80%
Market Cap: $1.08T USD
Circulating Supply: 18,703,068 BTC
Max Supply: 21,000,000 BTC
What Is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is the first decentralized cryptocurrency, introduced in 2008 via a whitepaper by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto. Launched in January 2009, it enables peer-to-peer transactions without intermediaries, revolutionizing digital payments.
Key Features:
- Decentralization: Operates without banks or financial institutions.
- Scarcity: Fixed supply of 21 million coins.
- Pioneering Role: Foundation for thousands of subsequent cryptocurrencies.
👉 Discover how Bitcoin compares to other assets
2. Ethereum (ETH)
Current Price: $3,519.19 USD
24-Hour Trading Volume: $38.9B USD
24-Hour Change: +2.70%
Market Cap: $407.4B USD
Circulating Supply: 115,783,357 ETH
Max Supply: Unlimited
What Is Ethereum?
Ethereum is an open-source blockchain platform supporting smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Its native currency, Ether (ETH), fuels the network.
Innovations:
- Smart Contracts: Self-executing agreements with no intermediaries.
- ERC-20 Tokens: Hosts thousands of compatible tokens (e.g., USDT, LINK).
- Scalability: Continuously upgraded to handle global demand.
3. Binance Coin (BNB)
Current Price: $630.03 USD
24-Hour Trading Volume: $3.4B USD
24-Hour Change: +2.03%
Market Cap: $96.6B USD
Circulating Supply: 153,432,897 BNB
Max Supply: 170,532,785 BNB
What Is Binance Coin?
BNB powers the Binance ecosystem, including fee discounts on the Binance exchange and participation in blockchain projects like Binance Chain.
Unique Aspects:
- Utility: Used for trading, staking, and transaction fees.
- Ecosystem Growth: Supports DeFi, NFTs, and more.
👉 Explore Binance Coin's latest developments
4. Dogecoin (DOGE)
Current Price: $0.710211 USD
24-Hour Trading Volume: $27.3B USD
24-Hour Change: +20.86%
Market Cap: $91.9B USD
Circulating Supply: 129.5B DOGE
Max Supply: Unlimited
What Is Dogecoin?
Originally a meme coin, Dogecoin gained popularity for its community-driven tipping culture and endorsements from figures like Elon Musk.
Fun Facts:
- Scrypt Mining: Uses a simpler algorithm than Bitcoin.
- Infinite Supply: No cap on total coins.
5. XRP
Current Price: $1.61 USD
24-Hour Trading Volume: $9.6B USD
24-Hour Change: +3.32%
Market Cap: $56.3B USD
Circulating Supply: 35.1B XRP
Max Supply: 100B XRP
What Is XRP?
XRP facilitates fast, low-cost international payments via RippleNet, a real-time gross settlement system.
How It Works:
- Consensus Ledger: Validates transactions in 3-5 seconds.
- Energy Efficiency: No mining required.
FAQ Section
Q1: Which cryptocurrency has the highest market cap?
A1: Bitcoin (BTC) leads with over $1 trillion in market capitalization.
Q2: Can Ethereum be used for more than payments?
A2: Yes! It supports dApps, smart contracts, and token creation.
Q3: Why is Dogecoin’s supply unlimited?
A3: Designed for casual use, its inflationary model encourages spending.
Q4: How does XRP differ from Bitcoin?
A4: XRP uses a consensus ledger (not mining) for faster, cheaper transactions.
Q5: What’s Binance Coin’s primary use case?
A5: BNB reduces fees on Binance and powers its blockchain projects.
Q6: Who created Bitcoin?
A6: The anonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, whose identity remains unknown.