A cryptocurrency is a digital currency, which is an alternative form of payment created using encryption algorithms. The use of encryption technologies means that cryptocurrencies function both as a currency and as a virtual accounting system.
What is cryptocurrency?
Cryptocurrency comes under many names. You have probably read about some of the most popular types of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum. Cryptocurrencies are increasingly popular alternatives for online payments. Before converting real dollars, euros, pounds, or other traditional currencies into ₿ (the symbol for Bitcoin, the most popular cryptocurrency), you should understand what cryptocurrencies are, what the risks are in using cryptocurrencies, and how to protect your investment.
20 of the Most Popular Cryptocurrencies to Watch This Year
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Tether (USDT)
- USD Coin (USDC)
- BNB (BNB)
- Binance Coin USD (BUSD)
- XRP (XRP)
- Cardano (ADA)
- Solana (SOL)
- Dogecoin (DOGE)
- Polkadot (DOT)
- Dai (DAI)
- Polygon (MATIC)
- Shiba Inu (SHIB)
- TRON (TRX)
- Avalanche (AVAX)
- UNUS SED LEO (LEO)
- Litecoin (LTC)
- Stellar (XLM)
- Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
What are Cryptocurrencies?
A cryptocurrency is a virtual or digital currency that uses cryptography to secure its transactions and control the creation of new units. This technique protects electronic information by converting it into a code that is difficult to crack.
What’s unique about cryptocurrency is that it is distributed in a somewhat anonymous fashion. It’s also 100% transparent.
Every transaction is recorded on a digital ledger called a blockchain. The blockchain contains a public record of every transaction that has ever occurred. This system is why cryptocurrencies are often referred to as being “decentralized.” There is no one central authority that oversees or regulates the currency. The blockchain facilitates this movement and tracking without the need for a central authority.
Blockchain technology is an important feature of the crypto ecosystem. By design, it is open-source, meaning that any developer can view and build on this technology. Hence the incredible number of crypto-backed financial products we now see on the market.
What are Cryptocurrencies Used For?
Many people buy crypto as an investment, but most crypto can now be used to purchase goods and services. For merchants, this poses a great benefit to accepting more transactions.
“As customers change the ways they shop and pay, merchants will have to offer a wider range of alternative payment methods that not only offer consumers options at checkout but also reduce their cost of acceptance. For SMBs, the largest line-item cost can often be acceptance of payments. With that in mind, they want to offer consumers more peer-to-peer payment options…”
As crypto holders hold their own crypto (there are no financial institutions in the middle), these transactions are peer-to-peer, making it easier for merchants and friends to transfer easily between one another.
For investors, decentralized financial services (Defi) solutions make it easy to not only collect and hold cryptocurrencies. Holders can stake their crypto, trade, and use their crypto to invest in other blockchain-based projects and decentralized organizations. Anything you can do in the traditional financial markets, there is a crypto equivalent operating on the blockchain.
20 of the Most Popular Cryptocurrencies to Watch This Year
Looking at both those that are currently in favor and those that look to be on the rise, we have listed the most widespread crypto assets, how they’re used, and why they’re so popular.
- Bitcoin (BTC)
Bitcoin is the original cryptocurrency and is still the most well-known. It was created in 2009 and is currently the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization.
Often seen as a way to store value, Bitcoin is seen by many as “digital gold.” It’s considered a good investment with a long history of steady growth. Although this is not guaranteed, it is the cryptocurrency that most people place the most value in. Therefore, its value continues to go up.
Bitcoin is the most common cryptocurrency for use, similar to traditional currencies. Many shops accept Bitcoin. Many online purchases can be made with Bitcoin. So far, it is the cryptocurrency of choice for buying both real-world and digital goods and services.
- Ethereum (ETH)
Ethereum was created in 2015 and quickly rose to become the second-largest cryptocurrency. It is quite different from Bitcoin, designed to serve a different purpose, and is now used for a variety of interesting decentralized applications (DApps).
Ethereum is a decentralized platform that runs smart contracts. These are applications that can be built on top of Ethereum’s blockchain. These contracts are programs that run exactly as programmed without any possibility of fraud or third-party interference.
Smart contracts allow for a wide range of possibilities, from games to financial applications. Ethereum was the blockchain birthplace of NFTs. Through smart contracts, NFTs could be created, sold, and programmed in a variety of interesting ways to enable artists to get royalties or NFTs to have unique utilities. These utilities are what make it possible for gamers to buy outfits and tools with Ether and use them in the game.
- Tether (USDT)
Tether is a stablecoin that is pegged to the US dollar. Currently, it is the third-largest cryptocurrency and one of the most popular stablecoins.
The main use for Tether is to “tether” or stabilize other cryptocurrencies. When the crypto market fluctuates a lot, investors often move their money into USDT so they don’t lose as much money. This helps to stabilize the market and provides a way to buy cryptos when prices are low and sell when they are high.
- USD Coin (USDC)
USD Coin is a stablecoin created by Circle and Coinbase. It is backed 1:1 with the US dollar and is available on Coinbase.
Like Tether, USD Coin is used to stabilize other cryptocurrencies. Because it is available on Coinbase, it is one of the more accessible stablecoins. Coinbase is one of the most popular crypto exchanges and allows for buying, selling, and transferring crypto easily.
- BNB (BNB)
BNB is the native token of Binance, one of the most used platforms for buying, selling, and transferring crypto.
BNB can be used to pay fees on the Binance platform. These fees are often lower than if you were to pay them in another currency. It can also be used to buy other cryptos on the Binance platform.
- Binance Coin USD (BUSD)
Binance USD is another stablecoin. It was created by Binance and is backed 1:1 with the US dollar.
Like other stablecoins, it is used to stabilize cryptocurrencies. Because it is from Binance, it can be used to pay fees on the Binance platform and to buy other cryptos.
- XRP (XRP)
XRP is the native token of Ripple, a payment network for banks and financial institutions. Created on its blockchain platform, called XRP Ledger, Ripple is used by banks and financial institutions as a way to settle transactions quickly and cheaply.
Because of its useful application for financial institutions, XRP has been adopted by some of the largest banks in the world.
- Cardano (ADA)
Cardano is a smart contract platform created in 2015 by Charles Hoskinson, one of the co-founders of Ethereum.
What makes it unique is that it uses a proof-of-stake consensus algorithm instead of proof-of-work. This makes it more energy-efficient than other blockchain protocols. For context, Processing Bitcoin transactions consumes around 110 Terawatt Hours per year—which is equivalent to the annual energy draw of small countries such as Sweden. Cardano, on the other hand, is said to be 1.6 million times more energy-efficient compared to Bitcoin, as cited by Forbes.
Currently, they are working on integrating a new programming language called Plutus, which will make it easier to develop smart contracts.
- Solana (SOL)
Solana is a high-speed blockchain protocol that can process thousands of transactions per second. It was created in 2017 by Anatoly Yakovenko, the former Chief Technical Officer at Qualcomm.
Solana’s main selling point is its speed. It can process transactions much faster than other protocols like Ethereum. This makes it ideal for applications that need to process a lot of transactions quickly, such as video streaming or gaming.
- Dogecoin (DOGE)
Dogecoin started as a joke in 2013. It is based on the Doge meme, which features a Shiba Inu dog.
While it may have begun as a joke, it has since grown to become one of the more popular cryptocurrencies. This is largely due to its low price, which makes it accessible to everyone.
It’s a coin for the people and has been used for charitable causes, such as sending money to Kenya to build water wells.
- Polkadot (DOT)
Polkadot was created in 2016 and is a “next-generation” blockchain protocol. It is designed to be scalable, flexible, and interoperable.
What makes Polkadot unique is that it uses “parachains.” These are chains that can be used for specific applications. This allows for a more customizable and efficient use of resources.
Polkadot is also working on something called “Polkaswap,” which is a decentralized exchange. This will allow users to trade DOT, ETH, and other assets in a trustless manner.
- Dai (DAI)
Dai is a stablecoin that is backed by the US dollar. It was created by MakerDAO, a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) on the Ethereum blockchain.
What makes Dai unique is that it uses a system of “collateralized debt positions.” This means that it is backed by other assets, such as ETH or BAT.
This makes Dai a very stable coin, as it is not subject to the same volatility as other cryptocurrencies.
- Polygon (MATIC)
Polygon is a “scalability solution” for Ethereum. It is a “layer 2” solution, which means that it sits on top of Ethereum and helps to improve its scalability.
One of the main features of Polygon is “sidechains.” These are separate chains that can be used to process transactions. This off-loads some of the work from the Ethereum blockchain, which helps to improve its scalability.
Polygon is also working on “stake-mining” that will allow users to earn rewards for staking their tokens on the network.
- Shiba Inu (SHIB)
Shiba Inu is another cryptocurrency that was created as a “joke coin” in 2021. It is based on the Dogecoin meme, which features a Shiba Inu dog.
However, unlike Dogecoin, which has a market cap of $1 billion, Shiba Inu has a market cap of $5 billion. This is because it was created on the Ethereum blockchain, which allows for “token cloning.”
This means that anyone can create their own version of Shiba Inu. As a result, there are now over 100 different versions of the coin.
- TRON (TRX)
TRON is a decentralized entertainment protocol that was founded in 2017. It is designed to “decentralize the web” and allow for a more open internet.
TRON has its own blockchain, which is designed to be scalable. It can also process transactions very quickly.
TRON is working on a number of different projects, such as the TRON Arcade, which is a gaming platform. It is also working on something called “Project Atlas,” which is a project to decentralize the internet.
- Avalanche (AVAX)
Avalanche is a “platform for launching decentralized finance applications and enterprise blockchains.” It is designed to be scalable, secure, and interoperable.
Avalanche is based on a “proof-of-stake” consensus model, which means that users can earn rewards for staking their tokens on the network.
Working with smart contracts, they are improving the usability of the platform.
- UNUS SED LEO (LEO)
UNUS SED LEO is a token that is used to power the Bitfinex exchange. This means it can be used to pay for fees on the Bitfinex exchange. Users can then get a discount on fees if they use UNUS SED LEO to pay them. It was created in 2019 and is backed by the US dollar.
UNUS SED LEO allows users to earn rewards for staking their tokens on the exchange. Staking is a practice in which users lock up tokens to help improve the security of the network. Rewards are paid out in the form of LEO tokens.
- Litecoin (LTC)
Litecoin is a cryptocurrency that was created in 2011 as a “lightweight” version of Bitcoin. It has a number of different features that make it unique, such as faster transaction times and improved storage efficiency.
Litecoin is often used as a “testnet” for Bitcoin. This means that developers can test new features on Litecoin before implementing them on Bitcoin. As one of the older cryptocurrencies, outside of Bitcoin, it has a large community of supporters.
- Stellar (XLM)
Stellar is a payments network that allows for fast, cross-border transactions. It is designed to be scalable and to work with existing financial infrastructure. It’s based on a “consensus protocol,” which means that it does not require mining to validate transactions. This makes it more energy-efficient than other cryptocurrencies.
In addition to its cryptocurrency, Stella is working on projects like “StellarX,” which is a decentralized exchange. And “Lightning Network,” designed to make Stellar even faster and more scalable.
- Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
Bitcoin Cash is a “fork” of Bitcoin. This means that it is a copy of Bitcoin with some changes. The main change is the block size, which is eight times larger on Bitcoin Cash. This allows for more transactions to be processed per second.
Bitcoin Cash also has a different mining algorithm than Bitcoin, which makes it more accessible to miners who do not have access to specialized equipment.
The Most Popular Cryptocurrencies
by market capitalization, are Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, and Solana. Other well-known cryptocurrencies include Tezos, EOS, and ZCash. Some are similar to Bitcoin. Others are based on different technologies or have new features that allow them to do more than transfer value.
Crypto makes it possible to transfer value online without the need for a middleman like a bank or payment processor, allowing value to transfer globally, near-instantly, 24/7, for low fees.
Cryptocurrencies are usually not issued or controlled by any government or other central authority. They’re managed by peer-to-peer networks of computers running free, open-source software. Generally, anyone who wants to participate can.
If a bank or government isn’t involved, how is crypto secure? It’s secure because all transactions are vetted by a technology called a blockchain.
A cryptocurrency blockchain is similar to a bank’s balance sheet or ledger. Each currency has its own blockchain, which is an ongoing, constantly re-verified record of every single transaction ever made using that currency.
Unlike a bank’s ledger, a crypto blockchain is distributed across participants of the digital currency’s entire network
No company, country, or third party is in control of it; and anyone can participate. A blockchain is a breakthrough technology only recently made possible through decades of computer science and mathematical innovations.
Why is cryptocurrency the future of finance? Why is cryptocurrency the future of finance?
Cryptocurrencies are the first alternative to the traditional banking system and have powerful advantages over previous payment methods and traditional classes of assets.
Think of them as Money 2.0. — a new kind of cash that is native to the internet, which gives it the potential to be the fastest, easiest, cheapest, safest, and most universal way to exchange value that the world has ever seen.
Cryptocurrencies can be used to buy goods or services or held as part of an investment strategy, but they can’t be manipulated by any central authority, simply because there isn’t one.
No matter what happens to a government, your cryptocurrency will remain secure.
Digital currencies provide equality of opportunity, regardless of where you were born or where you live. As long as you have a smartphone or another internet-connected device, you have the same crypto access as everyone else.
Cryptocurrencies create unique opportunities for expanding people’s economic freedom around the world. Digital currencies’ essential borderlessness facilitates free trade, even in countries with tight government controls over citizens’ finances.
In places where inflation is a key problem, cryptocurrencies can provide an alternative to dysfunctional fiat currencies for savings and payments.
As part of a broader investment strategy, crypto can be approached in a wide variety of ways. One approach is to buy and hold something like Bitcoin, which has gone from virtually worthless in 2008 to thousands of dollars a coin today.
Another would be a more active strategy, buying and selling cryptocurrencies that experience volatility.
One option for crypto-curious investors looking to minimize risk is USD Coin, which is pegged 1:1 to the value of the U.S. dollar. It offers the benefits of crypto, including the ability to transfer money internationally quickly and cheaply, with the stability of a traditional currency.
Coinbase customers that hold USDC earn rewards, making it an appealing alternative to a traditional savings account.
What is cryptocurrency mining?
Most cryptocurrencies are ‘mined’ via a decentralized (also known as peer-to-peer) network of computers. But mining doesn’t just generate more Bitcoin or Ethereum – it’s also the mechanism that updates and secures the network by constantly verifying the public blockchain ledger and adding new transactions.
Technically, anyone with a computer and an internet connection can become a miner. But before you get excited, it’s worth noting that mining is not always profitable. Depending on which cryptocurrency you’re mining, how fast your computer is, and the cost of electricity in your area, you may end up spending more on mining than you earn back in cryptocurrency.
As a result, most crypto mining these days is done by companies that specialize in it, or by large groups of individuals who all contribute their computing power.
How does the network encourage miners to participate in maintaining the blockchain? Again, taking Bitcoin as an example, the network holds a lottery in which all the mining rigs around the world race to become the first to solve a math problem, which also verifies and updates the blockchain with new transactions. Each winner is awarded a new bitcoin, which can then make its way into the broader marketplace.
How to buy Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency
The easiest way to acquire cryptocurrency is to purchase on an online exchange like Coinbase.
On Coinbase, you can buy major cryptocurrencies like
Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC), Ethereum (ETH), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Ethereum Classic (ETC). Or you can explore emerging coins like Stellar Lumens or EOS. For some cryptocurrencies, Coinbase offers opportunities to earn some for free.)
One good approach is to ask yourself what you’re hoping to do with crypto and choose the currency that will help you achieve your goals. For example, if you want to buy a laptop with crypto, bitcoin might be a good option because it is the most widely accepted cryptocurrency. On the other hand, if you want to play a digital card game, then Ethereum is a popular choice.
Keep in mind that you do not need to buy a whole coin. On Coinbase, you can buy portions of coins in increments as little as 2 dollars, euros, pounds, or your local currency.