1. Bitcoin (BTC)
- Overview: Bitcoin is the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, often referred to as digital gold. It was created by an unknown person or group of people using the name Satoshi Nakamoto and released as open-source software in 2009.
- Popularity: Bitcoin’s dominance in the market, extensive use case, and acceptance as a store of value make it the most popular cryptocurrency in the USA.
2. Ethereum (ETH)
- Overview: Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum is a decentralized platform that enables smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps) to be built and run without any downtime, fraud, or interference.
- Popularity: Ethereum is highly popular due to its versatile blockchain, which supports a variety of applications beyond just digital currency.
3. Binance Coin (BNB)
- Overview: Binance Coin is the native cryptocurrency of the Binance exchange, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. It was initially based on the Ethereum blockchain but later migrated to Binance’s own blockchain, Binance Chain.
- Popularity: BNB is widely used for trading fee discounts on the Binance platform and for participating in Binance Launchpad’s token sales.
4. Cardano (ADA)
- Overview: Cardano is a blockchain platform for changemakers, innovators, and visionaries, with the tools and technologies required to create possibility for the many, as well as the few, and bring about positive global change.
- Popularity: Cardano’s focus on security, scalability, and sustainability makes it a popular choice among investors and developers.
5. Solana (SOL)
- Overview: Solana is a high-performance blockchain supporting builders around the world creating crypto apps that scale today. It claims to offer faster transaction speeds and lower costs.
- Popularity: Solana’s efficient blockchain protocol and rising ecosystem have garnered significant interest.
6. Ripple (XRP)
- Overview: Ripple is both a platform and a currency. The Ripple platform is an open-source protocol designed to allow fast and cheap transactions. The currency of the platform is also called Ripple (XRP).
- Popularity: XRP is used for real-time cross-border payments, making it popular among financial institutions.
7. Polkadot (DOT)
- Overview: Polkadot is a network protocol that allows arbitrary data—not just tokens—to be transferred across blockchains. This means Polkadot is a true multi-chain application environment where things like cross-chain registries and cross-chain computation are possible.
- Popularity: Polkadot’s unique approach to interoperability and its growing ecosystem make it a popular choice.