As of January 21, 2025, the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization are:
- Bitcoin (BTC): The original cryptocurrency, created in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto, operates on a decentralized blockchain and is widely accepted as a form of payment.
- Ethereum (ETH): Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum is a decentralized platform that enables developers to build and deploy decentralized applications (DApps) and smart contracts.
- Tether (USDT): Introduced in 2014, Tether is a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar on a 1:1 ratio, providing stability and liquidity in the cryptocurrency market.
- Binance Coin (BNB): Created in 2017, BNB is the native token of the Binance exchange, used to pay for transaction fees and participate in various platform services.
- USD Coin (USDC): Launched in 2018, USDC is a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, offering stability and is widely used for transactions and trading.
- Ripple (XRP): Developed in 2012 by Ripple Labs, XRP is used to facilitate fast and low-cost international money transfers on the Ripple network.
- Cardano (ADA): Initiated in 2017, Cardano is a third-generation blockchain platform designed for efficient scalability and flexibility, enabling the development of DApps and smart contracts.
- Dogecoin (DOGE): Started as a joke in 2013, Dogecoin has gained popularity for its active community and is used for small transactions and tipping online.
- Solana (SOL): Launched in 2020, Solana is a high-performance blockchain platform supporting decentralized applications and crypto-assets at scale, known for its fast transaction speeds.
- Polkadot (DOT): Released in 2020, Polkadot is a blockchain platform designed to connect various blockchains, allowing them to interoperate seamlessly.
These rankings are based on market capitalization data available up to December 2024.