What is Cryptocurrency?–Top 5 Cryptocurrencies of 2018

A cryptocurrency is a digital or implicit currency created to act as a token of exchange. It utilizes cryptography to secure and authenticate activities.

Prasanna Peshkar

Prasanna Peshkar

October 23, 2018 10:32 AM

What is Cryptocurrency?–Top 5 Cryptocurrencies of 2018

Cryptocurrency, a kind of digital money that is created to be safe and, in many circumstances, anonymous. This word cryptocurrency has seized the imagination of some people and has ignited suspicion among many people. Let’s take a look at what exactly the fuss is all about.

What is Cryptocurrency?

A cryptocurrency is a digital or implicit currency created to act as a token of exchange. It utilizes cryptography to secure and authenticate activities as well as to manage the production of new units of a distinct cryptocurrency. Actually, cryptocurrencies are bounded records in a database that no one can modify unless explicit requirements are satisfied.

In the year 2009, an anonymous person or a group of people under a pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto launched Bitcoin. Satoshi explained it as a ‘peer-to-peer electronic cash system.’ It is fully decentralized, suggesting there are no servers connected and no regulating jurisdiction. The idea almost matches peer-to-peer systems for file distribution.

There are numerous appealing use cases of digital currency. If people are working in a different country then they can send money back to the family without paying heavy global charges. Traders no longer have to bother about payment scam or fallacious checks because people can only pay what they have.

Top 5 Cryptocurrencies by Market Cap 

In the world of cryptocurrencies, luck changes instantly. The area is ruled by levity above many other determinants. According to CoinMarketCap, these are the top 5 cryptocurrencies by market cap.

Bitcoin: Bitcoin is the king of cryptocurrency market. As of this writing, the market capitalization of the world’s top cryptocurrency is $114,253,953,601 and its circulating supply is 17,325,150 BTC. The Bitcoin price was increased from $6,300 to $6900 on Monday. It tentatively appeared to be on the curve of breaking past $7,000 as the Tether (USDT) liquidity result eventually created a breakout. The top-ranked cryptocurrency rose at $6,900 before a pullback saw it drop over $300 but still preserve a convincing 24-hour price variation.

Story Of Cryptocurrency Bitcoin

Bitcoin is the first digital currency. It is decentralized without a central bank that can be transferred from user-to-user on the peer-to-peer Bitcoin system without mediators.

Ethereum: Ethereum was introduced in late 2013 by Vitalik Buterin, a cryptocurrency researcher and programmer. Development was backed by an online crowdsale that took place amid July and August 2014.

The Story Of Cryptocurrency Ethereum

Ethereum is an open-source, unrestricted, blockchain-based shared computing stage and operating system highlighting smart contract functionality. It underpins a revised version of Nakamoto consensus via transaction-based environment developments. As of writing this, its market capitalization is $21,565,355,405 and its circulating supply is 102,606,246 ETH.

Ripple: Ripple is a real-time gross settlement method, currency exchange and payment network designed by Ripple Labs Inc., a US-based company. Ripple is established upon a shared open source internet protocol and holds tokens serving fiat currency and cryptocurrency.

The Story Of Cryptocurrency Ripple

Issued in 2012, Ripple indicates to facilitate secure and almost free global economic transactions of any size. As of writing this, its market capitalization is $18,227,962,904 and its circulating supply is 39,997,634,397 XRP.

Bitcoin Cash: Bitcoin cash is a cryptocurrency founded in August 2017, resulting from a fork of Bitcoin Classic. Bitcoin Cash boosts the size of blocks, enabling extra transactions to be processed. Bitcoin Cash deviates from Bitcoin Classic in that it improves the block size from 1 MB to 8 MB.

The story of Cryptocurrency Bitcoin Cash

As of writing this, its market capitalization is $7,999,882,107 and its circulating supply is 17,405,413 BCH.

EOS: EOS is a blockchain platform for the expansion of decentralized applications related to Ethereum in working. It makes dapp development simple by implementing operating-system-like services and roles that dapps can utilize.    

Story of Cryptocurrency EOS

EOS produces various features and smart contract technologies scalable dapp platform. As of writing this, its market capitalization is $4,928,760,459 and its circulating supply is 906,245,118 EOS.

Basically, any digital currency arrangement is founded on the full consensus of all the members concerning the legitimacy of profits and activities. If nodes of the system dissent on a particular balance, the system would fundamentally crush. However, there are a lot of commands pre-built and processed into the network that stops this from happening. Cryptocurrencies are so called because the consensus method is secured with strong cryptography.

Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any cryptocurrency. It is not a recommendation to trade. The crypto market is full of surprises and overhyped assets. Do your research before buying anything. Do not invest more than you can afford to lose.

The infographic credits to btxchange.io.

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Prasanna Peshkar
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Prasanna Peshkar

Prasanna Peshkar is a seasoned writer and analyst specializing in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. With a focus on delivering insightful commentary and analysis, Prasanna serves as a writer and analyst at CryptoTicker, assisting readers in navigating the complexities of the cryptocurrency market.

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