TOP COINS
EXPLAINED
Know what you're investing in. Here's a breakdown of the most important cryptocurrencies.
₿ Bitcoin (BTC) — Digital Gold
Bitcoin is the original cryptocurrency and remains the largest by market cap. Created to be a decentralised peer-to-peer payment system, it's now mostly viewed as a store of value — like digital gold.
Max supply: 21 million BTC — making it deflationary by design. Halving: Every ~4 years, the reward for mining Bitcoin is cut in half, reducing new supply.
⬡ Ethereum (ETH) — The World Computer
Ethereum introduced smart contracts — self-executing code that runs on the blockchain. This enabled an entire ecosystem of DeFi, NFTs, and decentralised applications (dApps). Ethereum transitioned from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake in "The Merge" (2022), cutting energy use by 99.9%.
| # | Coin | Symbol | Use Case | Consensus | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bitcoin | BTC | Store of Value / Payments | Proof of Work | Medium |
| 2 | Ethereum | ETH | Smart Contracts / dApps | Proof of Stake | Medium |
| 3 | Solana | SOL | Fast Transactions / NFTs | Proof of History | High |
| 4 | BNB | BNB | Exchange / Ecosystem | Proof of Stake Auth | High |
| 5 | XRP | XRP | Cross-border Payments | Ripple Protocol | High |
| 6 | USDT / USDC | Stablecoins | Price Stability | Centralised | Low |
| 7 | Cardano | ADA | Research-driven dApps | Ouroboros PoS | High |
💵 Stablecoins — Crypto Without the Volatility
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies pegged to a stable asset, usually the US dollar. They let you stay in the crypto ecosystem without exposure to price swings.
Fiat-backed (USDT, USDC): Backed 1:1 by real dollars held in reserve. Most trusted and widely used.
Crypto-backed (DAI): Over-collateralised with crypto. Decentralised but complex.
Algorithmic (e.g. UST): Maintained by algorithms and incentives. High risk — TerraUST collapsed in 2022, wiping out $60B+.
Key use: Trading, DeFi, avoiding volatility, remittances, and earning yield.