When most people think about cryptocurrency, Bitcoin usually steals the spotlight. But did you know there are thousands of other digital currencies in the crypto space? These alternatives to Bitcoin are commonly known as altcoins, meaning “alternative coins.”
Bitcoin was the first major cryptocurrency to launch back in 2009, and it set the foundation for the digital asset revolution. However, since then, many other cryptocurrencies have risen in popularity—even if they don’t match Bitcoin in size or market dominance.
Let’s take a look at some of the largest cryptocurrencies today, measured by total market capitalization (the combined dollar value of all coins currently in circulation). (Data sourced from CoinMarketCap.com, accurate as of June 27, 2025.)
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1. Bitcoin (BTC)
- Price: $106,505.94
- Market cap: $2.1 trillion
When it comes to digital currency, Bitcoin is still the most well-known brand. Introduced in 2009 by its enigmatic creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, it is frequently the first coin that comes to mind when people talk about cryptocurrency. Since then, there have been notable highs and lows for Bitcoin. However, it wasn’t until 2017 that it really became well-known. In 2024, spot Bitcoin ETFs were approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), making it easier than ever for investors to get exposure to Bitcoin without actually purchasing the asset.
2. Ethereum (ETH)
- Price: $2,392.02
- Market cap: $288.8 billion
The cryptocurrency’s platform, Ethereum, is the second most well-known name in the digital currency space. Ethereum’s smart contract functionality is what really makes it unique, even though its native token, Ether, can be used for a variety of transactions. This special quality is a major factor in Ethereum’s rising prominence in the cryptocurrency world.
3. Tether (USDT)
- Price: $1.00
- Market cap: $157.5 billion
The purpose of Tether is to keep the value of each coin at a constant $1. This is due to the fact that it falls under the category of stablecoins, which are cryptocurrencies that are based on the value of actual assets. The US dollar is that asset in Tether’s case. When moving between different cryptocurrencies, a lot of traders use Tether as a bridge. They choose to use Tether rather than converting their assets back into US dollars. There are persistent doubts, nevertheless, as to whether Tether is actually supported by US dollar reserves or if it instead depends on short-term, unsecured financial instruments.
4. XRP (XRP)
- Price: $2.09
- Market cap: $123.7 billion
XRP was introduced by Ripple in 2012 and allows for easy payments using a variety of real-world currencies. Because it uses a decentralized approach to process payments rather than depending on conventional trust systems, it is particularly useful for international transactions.
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5. BNB (BNB)
- Price: $643.38
- Market cap: $90.65 billion
One of the leading cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, Binance, uses BNB as its native currency. BNB was first introduced to reduce trading fees, but it is now commonly used to pay for and purchase a wide range of goods and services.
6. Solana (SOL)
- Price: $140.63
- Market cap: $75.2 billion
Introduced in March 2020, Solana is a cutting-edge cryptocurrency renowned for its potent “web-scale” blockchain platform and lightning-fast transaction speeds. Its native token, SOL, has a maximum supply of 480 million coins.
7. USD Coin (USDC)
- Price: $0.9999
- Market cap: $61.8 billion
Like Tether, USD Coin is a stablecoin that is based on the US dollar and is intended to hold its value over time. Each coin, according to its creators, is backed by fully reserved assets or assets with a comparable fair value that are safely kept in accounts run by US-regulated financial institutions.
8. TRON (TRX)
- Price: $0.2718
- Market cap: $25.8 billion
TRON is a blockchain-based decentralized platform that was introduced in 2017. TRX is the name of its native cryptocurrency. The acquisition of the well-known peer-to-peer file-sharing website BitTorrent by the TRON Foundation in 2018 garnered media attention.
9. Dogecoin (DOGE)
- Price: $0.1584
- Market cap: $23.7 billion
After the rise in popularity of Bitcoin, Dogecoin began as a humorous joke based on the Shiba Inu meme that went viral. But what started out as a meme quickly developed into a legitimate cryptocurrency. Dogecoin has no upper limit; new coins can always be created, in contrast to other digital currencies that have a cap on their total supply. These days, it’s widely used for quick and simple money transfers and online payments.
10. Cardano (ADA)
- Price: $0.5465
- Market cap: $19.3 billion
The cryptocurrency platform that created ada, the name of the currency, is called Cardano. Cardano, which was developed by the Ethereum co-founder, also makes use of smart contracts to facilitate identity management.
Bottom line
The cryptocurrency world is unpredictable and risky, so only invest what you’re willing to lose. Newcomers should be cautious—many trades are made against seasoned professionals with advanced tools and strategies. Without experience, navigating crypto can be overwhelming and costly, especially for beginners in this volatile market.
Disclaimer: We strongly encourage all investors to carry out thorough personal research on investment strategies before making any financial decisions. Also, please remember that past performance of any investment does not guarantee future results.
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