10 popular types of cryptocurrency and how they work

There are thousands of cryptocurrencies—but they’re not all the same. We reveal the 10 most popular types of cryptocurrency.

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Summary:

• There’s a wide range of cryptocurrencies, from niche altcoins to mainstream ones like Bitcoin, and each one has unique traits.
• Cryptocurrencies have diverse functions and uses. For example, coins like Bitcoin run their own blockchain, while tokens like Tether rely on existing blockchains.
• This article looks at the top 10 cryptocurrencies — their distinctive features, underlying technologies, and place in the digital currency landscape.

By now you might have heard that cryptocurrencies are digital currencies secured by cryptography. But how many types of cryptocurrency are there? It’s not just Bitcoin and Dogecoin making waves–there are actually thousands of cryptocurrencies in existence. In this article, we take a look at the top 10 (based on market capitalization), and give you some insight into other crypto assets you need to know about. 

What are the different types of cryptocurrency?

While many cryptocurrencies share a blockchain-based infrastructure, there are some striking differences between them. Generally speaking, cryptocurrency can be clustered into two distinct categories: coins and tokens.

Coins and altcoins 

A coin is any cryptocurrency that uses its own independent blockchain. For example, Bitcoin is considered a “coin” because it runs on its own infrastructure. Similarly, Ether is operated via the Ethereum blockchain. The term “altcoin” is used to refer to any coin other than Bitcoin. Many altcoins operate similarly to Bitcoin. However, others, such as Dogecoin, are rather different. Doge, for instance, offers an unlimited supply of coins compared to Bitcoin’s cap of 21 million coins.  

Tokens

Like coins, tokens are also digital assets that can be bought and sold. However, tokens are a non-native asset, meaning that they use another blockchain’s infrastructure. These include Tether, which is hosted on the Ethereum blockchain, and others, including Chainlink, Uniswap, and Polygon.

10 popular types of cryptocurrency and how they work

1. Bitcoin (BTC)

Bitcoin was the world’s first cryptocurrency,  — its origins date back to a white paper published in 2008 — , and remains the best-known type of crypto. It functions on its own blockchain, with transactions verified (and new Bitcoins created, up to a fixed cap) by an army of decentralized miners. In April 2024, Bitcoin had the largest market capitalization at 1.31 trillion USD.

Bitcoin Cash (BCH)

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) is a cryptocurrency that was created as a result of a hard fork from Bitcoin in 2017. It was developed to address Bitcoin’s scalability issues by increasing the block size, allowing more transactions to be processed at a faster rate. The goal was to improve transaction speeds and reduce fees so that the currency is more practical for everyday transactions. Bitcoin Cash shares many of the fundamental principles of Bitcoin but operates on its own blockchain and follows a different development path, focusing on transaction efficiency.

2. Ether (ETH)

Ether is the cryptocurrency that runs on the Ethereum blockchain. Like Bitcoin, Ether operates on its own blockchain—but unlike Bitcoin, Ether is uncapped, meaning that an infinite number of coins can theoretically be created. Ethereum also supports smart contracts, which are programs that run on the Ethereum blockchain and are executed automatically when certain conditions are met.

3. Binance Coin (BNB)

Binance Coin is native to Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange as of 2024. Transaction fees for this exchange are reduced for users who choose to pay in BNB. This has encouraged the adoption of Binance Coin, making it one of the largest cryptocoins in the market. To ensure its value remains stable, Binance destroys or “burns” a fixed percentage of the coins in circulation.

4. Tether (USDT)

Tether is a type of stablecoin, designed to have a less-volatile price by being linked to an external asset. In this case, each coin is backed by an equivalent number of US dollars, which keeps it from experiencing the same kind of pricing volatility that other cryptocurrencies face.  There is however, some debate about whether it truly is fully backed by the dollar.

5. Solana (SOL)

SOL is the native coin of the Solana platform, which functions on a blockchain system, just like Ethereum and Bitcoin. Solana’s network can perform a whopping 50,000 transactions per second,  making this platform especially attractive to investors looking to trade quickly. 

6. XRP (XRP)

XRP, which runs on the Ripple network, has been described as a “cryptocurrency for banks” because it's tailor-made to serve the needs of the financial services industry. Conceived as a way to facilitate international payments, XRP acts as a bridge between two different currencies to offer cheaper, quicker global transfers.

7. Cardano (ADA)

ADA is the native coin of the Cardano blockchain. Dubbed a “third-generation” cryptocurrency, Cardano splits its blockchain into two layers to increase transaction speeds and implements native tokens to ensure a better experience for ADA holders. 

8. USD Coin (USDC)

Much like Tether, USD Coin is a stablecoin connected to the US dollar that cannot be mined. However, unlike Tether, USD Coin has more transparent funding and better auditing processes. The aim is to remove some of the risk associated with crypto, as users should always be able to withdraw their coins and receive the corresponding amount of cash in exchange.

9. Aave (AAVE)

A decentralized crypto platform built on a proof-of-stake blockchain, Aave uses smart contracts to allow users to borrow and lend cryptocurrencies. As a protective mechanism for customers, Aave specializes in so-called overcollateralized loans, meaning customers are required to make crypto deposits worth more than they borrow. Users can then borrow up to a certain percentage of the pledged collateral value, helping avoid issues like loan defaults. They also have their own native token — also called AAVE.

10. Avalanche (AVAX)

AVAX is the native coin of the Avalanche platform, which bills itself as the “fastest smart contracts platform.” AVAX is, among other things, used to pay transaction fees on the Avalanche platform. The Avalanche platform allows developers to create new custom blockchains on Avalanche as “subnets.” Avalanche’s blockchain is compatible with Solidity, the Ethereum blockchain’s programming language, which makes it easier for Ethereum developers to build subnets on Avalanche. 

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What to consider before buying cryptocurrency

There are many different types of cryptocurrencies out there, so it’s certainly worth putting some thought into understanding which coins or tokens might be right for you. No matter if you’re a seasoned crypto investor or looking to take your first steps in this exciting world, learning is a great way to reduce risk and make an informed decision about your money.