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Cryptocurrencies offer a mix of opportunity and risk. While the market has matured and larger digital assets like bitcoin and Ethereum are now recognised as legitimate investments by professionals, investing in them remains volatile and complex.
For astute investors, crypto assets can be an interesting addition to a diversified portfolio. However, they require careful research, strong security practices and a strong stomach to weather the volatility they bring. The Australian Government is yet to introduce legislation to Parliament to regulate crypto markets, and until they do, it will remain a haven for scammers.
Nevertheless, Australians are crypto-curious. According to consumer group CHOICE, almost one in five Aussies are either involved in some form of cryptocurrency trading or are interested in getting involved. Those who steer clear from crypto often do so because of the risk of crypto scams. Some 4.6 million Australians own cryptocurrency, and Australia ranks third in the world for crypto uptake.
From bitcoin and Ethereum to Dogecoin and Tether, there are thousands of different cryptocurrencies, each with different strengths, weaknesses and varying degrees of potential.
Below are the top 10 cryptocurrencies based on their market capitalisation or the total value of all the coins currently in circulation. This is not a recommendation of what you should or should not buy; it is merely a list of the largest projects ranked by market capitalisation so you can get a sense of the playing field before you decide whether to roll the dice and invest in crypto.
Related: Best Cryptocurrency Exchanges for Australians
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What Are Cryptocurrencies?
A cryptocurrency is a digital asset that can circulate without the centralised authority of a bank or government. According to CoinMarketCap, there are more than two million cryptocurrency projects out there that represent the entire $US3.04 trillion crypto market.
1. Bitcoin (BTC)
- Market cap: $US1.81 trillion
Created in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto, bitcoin (BTC) is the original cryptocurrency. As with most cryptocurrencies, BTC runs on a decentralised blockchain technology, which is a ledger logging transactions distributed across a network of thousands of computers. Because additions to the distributed ledgers must be verified by solving a cryptographic puzzle, a process called proof of work, bitcoin is kept secure and safe from fraudsters.
Bitcoin’s price has skyrocketed as it’s become a household name. In May 2016, you could buy one bitcoin for about $US500. As of November 19, 2024 (seven months after the most recent bitcoin halving event occurred) a single bitcoin’s price was around $US90,520. That’s a growth of more than 18,000%.
Related: How To Buy Bitcoin
2. Ethereum (ETH)
- Market cap: $US375 billion
Both a cryptocurrency and a blockchain platform, Ethereum is a favourite of program developers because of its potential applications, like so-called smart contracts that automatically execute when conditions are met and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Alongside BTC, Ether is one of only two crypto assets that have spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on US exchanges.
Ethereum has also experienced tremendous growth. From April 2016 to November 19, 2024, its price went from about $US11 to around $US3,100, increasing 28,080%.
Related: How To Buy Ethereum
3. Tether (USDT)
- Market cap: $US128.2 billion
Unlike some other forms of cryptocurrency, Tether (USDT) is a stablecoin pegged to the value of US$1. This is achieved by having a 1-1 backing between the token and USD which hypothetically keeps a value equal to one of those denominations because one token should always be able to be redeemed for one dollar. In theory, this means Tether’s value is supposed to be more consistent than other cryptocurrencies, and it’s favoured by investors who are wary of the extreme volatility of other coins.
4. Solana (SOL)
- Market cap: $US115.6 billion
Solana is a high-performance blockchain platform designed to provide fast and scalable transaction processing. It utilises a unique consensus algorithm called Proof of History, which allows it to process up to 65,000 transactions per second, making it one of the fastest blockchain networks available today. Similar to Ethereum, the platform supports smart contracts and decentralised applications (dApps) and is extremely popular for both meme-coin and NFT trading.
The native token of the Solana platform is called SOL, and is used for paying transaction fees, staking, and participating in governance decisions on the network. The ICO price for SOL was $US0.22, and as of November 19, 2024, now sits at $US242, an increase of 219,900%.
5. Binance Coin (BNB)
- Market cap: $US88 billion
Binance Coin (BNB) is a form of cryptocurrency that you can use to trade and pay fees on Binance, one of the largest crypto exchanges in the world. Binance coin is native currency for BNB chain, which is a Ethereum-like chain that supports decentralised applications, other tokens and NFTs. Like both ETH and SOL on their respective chains, BNB is necessary to pay transactions on the BNB chain and denominates trading pairs on decentralised exchanges.
BNB’s price in 2017 was just $US0.10. By November 19, 2024, its price had risen to around $US620, a gain of approximately 603,900%.
Related: Cryptocurrency Glossary Of Terms
6. XRP (XRP)
- Market cap: $US62.87 billion
Created by some of the same founders as Ripple, a digital technology and payment processing company, XRP can be used on that network to facilitate exchanges of different currency types, including fiat currencies and other major cryptocurrencies.
At the beginning of 2017, the price of XRP was $US0.006. As of November 19 2024, its price reached $US1.10, equal to a rise of 18,233%.
7. Dogecoin (DOGE)
- Market cap: $57.1 billion
Dogecoin was famously started as a joke in 2013 but rapidly evolved into a prominent cryptocurrency thanks to a dedicated community and creative memes. Unlike many other cryptos, there is no limit on the number of Dogecoins that can be created, which leaves the currency susceptible to devaluation as supply increases.
Dogecoin’s price in 2017 was $0.0002. By November 19, 2024, its price sat at $0.389, up 194,400%.
8. U.S. Dollar Coin (USDC)
- Market cap: $US37.3 billion
Like Tether, USD Coin (USDC) is a stablecoin, meaning it’s backed by US dollars and aims for a 1 USD to 1 USDC ratio. USDC is available on numerous blockchains, such as Ethereum and Solana, and you can use USD Coin to complete global transactions.
9. Cardano (ADA)
- Market cap: $US26.5 billion
Somewhat later to the crypto scene, Cardano (ADA) is notable for its early embrace of proof-of-stake validation. This method expedites transaction time and decreases energy usage and environmental impact by removing the competitive, problem-solving aspect of transaction verification in platforms like bitcoin. Cardano also works like Ethereum to enable smart contracts and decentralised applications, which ADA, its native coin, powers.
Cardano’s ADA token has had relatively modest growth compared to other major crypto coins. In 2017, ADA’s price was $0.02. As of November 19, 2024, its price was at $0.7563. This is an increase of 3,681%.
10. Toncoin (TON)
- Market cap: $US17.7 billion
TRON (TRX) is a decentralised blockchain platform founded by Justin Sun, a Chinese entrepreneur. Originally launched as ERC-20 tokens on Ethereum, TRX transitioned to its own network in 2018 and has seen significant adoption from those using it for fast and cheap stablecoin payments.
The Tron blockchain features a public ledger similar to Bitcoin’s UTXO model and supports smart contracts and decentralised applications (dApps). Promoted as an alternative to Ethereum, TRON claims to be a project trying to decentralise the web.
From its initial ICO price of $US0.0019, TRX stands at $US0.20 as of November 19, 2024, a rise of more than 10,426%.
*Market caps and pricing sourced from coinmarketcap.com, current as of November 2024.
This article is not an endorsement of any particular cryptocurrency, broker or exchange nor does it constitute a recommendation of cryptocurrency or CFDs as an investment class. Cryptocurrency is unregulated in Australia and your capital is at risk. Trading in contracts for difference (CFDs) is riskier than conventional share trading, not suitable for the majority of investors, and includes the potential for partial or total loss of capital. You should always consider whether you can afford to lose your money before deciding to trade in CFDs or cryptocurrency, and seek advice from an authorised financial advisor.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are cryptocurrencies?
Cryptocurrency is a form of currency that exists solely in digital form. Cryptocurrency can be used to make near-instant overseas transfers and pay for purchases online without going through an intermediary, such as a bank, or it can be held as an investment.
Do you have to pay taxes on cryptocurrency?
If you buy and sell coins, paying attention to cryptocurrency tax rules is important. Cryptocurrency is treated as a capital asset, like stocks, rather than cash, which means that you need to pay your marginal tax rates on any capital gains or income earned from crypto when you register your return with the ATO. You can read our guide to crypto and tax in Australia.
How do you buy crypto?
You can buy cryptocurrencies through Australian-based crypto exchanges, such as CoinSpot and Swyftx or platforms such as eToro Australia. You can read our review of the Best Exchanges for Australians in 2024.
What are altcoins?
When we first think of crypto, we usually think of bitcoin first. That’s because bitcoin represents more than 54% of the total cryptocurrency market. So when we talk about any cryptos outside of bitcoin, all of those cryptos are considered altcoins.
Ethereum, for instance, is regarded as the most popular altcoin.
What are the three most popular cryptocurrencies?
Here are the top three cryptocurrencies by market capitalisation as of April 2024:
- Bitcoin (BTC): The original cryptocurrency, Bitcoin continues to hold its position as the market leader. Its widespread acceptance and status as digital gold make it a cornerstone of the crypto market.
- Ethereum (ETH): Ethereum has firmly established itself as the second most popular cryptocurrency, thanks to its versatile platform that enables decentralised applications (DApps) and smart contracts.Its ongoing developments and widespread use for DeFi and NFTs contribute to its strong position.
- Tether (USDT): Tether stands out as the most popular stablecoin, pegged to the US dollar to maintain a consistent value of US$1. With a market capitalisation of over US$100 billion, it’s a favourite among investors looking for stability in the often volatile crypto market. Its primary use is to provide a stable currency for trading and hedging in the crypto space.
These cryptocurrencies represent the forefront of the digital asset world, each with unique attributes that cater to different needs and preferences within the market. Whether you’re looking for a store of value, a platform for innovation, or stability, these top three cryptocurrencies offer something for every investor.
What is the number one crypto to buy now?
The number one cryptocurrency by market capitalisation is bitcoin, which has a current price of over $US90,000. Bitcoin has skyrocketed in recent weeks following the re-election of Donald Trump, who has promoted cryptocurrencies throughout his campaign and even teased the idea of creating a strategic US Bitcoin reserve.
What is the most stable crypto right now?
The most stable cryptocurrencies are stablecoins, which are designed to maintain a peg to another asset or currency, like the US dollar. Some common stable coins include Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC). However, while these coins are designed to maintain a peg to the USD by being backed 1:1 with real US dollars, there have been instances in the past where these coins have lost their peg and thrown their stable characteristic entirely out the window.
Which crypto has 1000x potential?
While some cryptocurrencies have seen massive gains in the past, predicting what coin might pull a 1000x return is impossible. For a digital asset to pull this kind of gain, it would have to be a very small, high-risk project. Investors should thoroughly research any cryptocurrency, understand the risks, and never invest more than they can afford to lose.
Which crypto is best to invest in now?
There’s no universally “best” cryptocurrency to invest in. The optimal choice depends on your risk tolerance, investment goals and the state of the market. Major cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and Ethereum are often considered more stable, while smaller altcoins offer higher potential returns but with significantly more risk. Always conduct thorough research and consider consulting a financial advisor before investing.
What is the best crypto wallet?
Finding the perfect crypto wallet can be a bit tricky, as the best one for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Crypto wallets come in different types, such as hardware and software wallets, each with its own pros and cons. Don’t forget to consider factors like security, ease of use, and compatibility with various cryptocurrencies when selecting a wallet. To help you make an informed decision, we recommend reading our crypto wallet review of the Best Crypto Wallets for Australians.
