Best cryptocurrency rankings

Founded in , Exodus is a multiasset software wallet that removes the geek requirement and keeps design a priority to make cryptocurrency and digital assets easy for everyone. Available for desktop and mobile, Exodus allows users to secure, manage and exchange cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin BTC , Ethereum ETH and more across an industry-leading 10,plus asset pairs from a beautiful, easy-to-use wallet.

Exodus is on a mission to empower half the world to exit the traditional finance system by Its social trading features are top notch, but eToro loses points for its lack of tradable currency pairs and underwhelming research and customer service features. Gemini is a cryptocurrency exchange and custodian that offers investors access to over coins and tokens.

Offerings include both major cryptocurrency projects like Bitcoin and Ethereum, and smaller altcoins like Orchid and 0x. Gemini is 1 of the only brokers with multiple platform options based on skill level. In addition to a host of platform choices, Gemini users also have access to insured hot wallets to store tokens without worrying about digital asset theft.

Learn more about what Gemini can do for you in our review. From Bitcoin to Litecoin or Basic Attention Token to Chainlink, Coinbase makes it exceptionally simple to buy and sell major cryptocurrency pairs. More advanced traders will love the Coinbase Pro platform, which offers more order types and enhanced functionality.

The 1st cryptocurrency was Bitcoin, invented in by an anonymous developer named Satoshi Nakamoto. It also led to the growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies as both an investment opportunity and as a medium of exchange, a way to securely transfer money from one currency owner to another digitally and without the use of traditional banks or financial institutions.

Cryptocurrencies are designed to function as money, an alternative to the fiat currencies of the world, many of which are in various stages of erosion through inflation or are at risk of government seizure. Cryptocurrencies offer a hedge against inflation, especially in countries like Venezuela. Cryptocurrencies offer several advantages when compared with traditional banking, money transfers, and fiat currencies.

Cryptocurrencies come with a list of considerations that can help investors make safer investments. Since the blockchain industry is still in its infancy, most cryptocurrencies are highly volatile. This being said, some cryptocurrencies, like stablecoins , offer low risk investments with higher returns than riskier investments like real estate. Cryptocurrencies and decentralized financial products are still in their formative years. Initial coin offerings can be tempting, particularly with the parabolic rises common to ICOs.

Almost as common is a precipitous fall following the ICO. More established currencies help to prevent some of the volatility and provide better liquidity than found with newly minted cryptocurrencies. Many early investors have found themselves without a viable way to exit the position. If cryptocurrencies are here to stay, some very good opportunities are likely to exist among the most commonly traded currencies, while also minimizing risk due to abandoned projects or lack of liquidity.

Most cryptocurrency investors choose to hold both Bitcoin and altcoins. However, altcoins often provide higher returns during a bull market, making them attractive investments for risk-tolerant individuals. The term altcoin refers to any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin. Craving more cryptocurrency knowledge? Benzinga crafted a specific methodology to rank cryptocurrency exchanges and tools. We prioritized platforms based on offerings, pricing and promotions, customer service, mobile app, user experience and benefits, and security.

To see a comprehensive breakdown of our methodology, please visit see our Cryptocurrency Methodology page. This content should not be interpreted as investment advice. Cryptocurrency is a volatile market, do your independent research and only invest what you can afford to lose. Want to advertise with us? Send us a message. Best Cryptocurrencies. Table of Contents [ Show ].

Buy Bitcoin. Buy Ethereum. Buy Polygon. Buy Sushi. Buy Solana. Buy Chainlink. Best For Low Minimums. Overall Rating. Read Review. Webull is widely considered one of the best Robinhood alternatives. Best For Active traders Intermediate traders. Pros No charges to open and maintain an account No account maintenance fees or software platform fees Intuitive trading platform with technical and fundamental analysis tools.

Cons Only offers 14 coins. Best For Newcomers to the cryptocurrency world Ease of use Trezor integration. Cons FTX app not available on the mobile app. Best For Copy Trading. Best For U. Other statistics on the topic. Raynor de Best. Profit from additional features with an Employee Account.

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Once you buy the new coin, you should record its price and keep it for the time you sell it when you will have to go through the same situation. The concept of cryptocurrency investment accounting may appear somewhat too complicated for non-accountants, which is understandable. One of the main reasons for that is the continuing lack of a focused effort from national tax authorities around the globe to issue detailed guidance on the treatment of digital currencies.

In a chaotic situation like this, the most important thing to do, to keep yourself away from trouble with authorities, is to keep records of all cryptocurrency transactions that you are involved in. Most cryptocurrency exchanges help organize this by offering convenient trading data exports for free. Once you download all your transaction information, you can reach out to a professional accountant or seek assistance from traders that are more experienced in dealing with taxes to help you determine what you owe.

It is advisable to do so, at least the first time you are filing your tax form, to avoid risks of missing crucial information or misrepresenting your taxable trading activity. Nomics currently lists 99 active cryptocurrency trading platforms that support USD trading pairs.

There are two main reasons for this — 1 the market is growing, and there is massive potential, and 2 it is easy to launch a cryptocurrency exchange. In terms of technology, there are three main options that you may choose from when launching a cryptocurrency exchange:.

However, it also comes at higher costs as you will have to hire an entire team of developers, designers, and consultants to take care of the security features, KYC procedures, payment processing services, etc. Bear in mind that currently, there is a shortage of blockchain developers, and you should have to set aside a higher budget to attract skilled professionals. The most important thing here is to perform an excellent initial analysis and try to estimate the total cost and length of the project.

Building a platform from scratch is associated with constant development, maintenance, and upgrades, which will require an additional budget. Depending on your budget and the expertise of the team, the project may take years or more to be concluded. Try to picture what the situation in the niche will be after that period and whether it will still offer the same profit opportunities. There are plenty of resources online in places like GitHub and other forums that provide open-source cryptocurrency exchange scripts.

They grant a significant advantage as you get a solid technological base to get things going at a zero initial investment. Because the source code is free, however, it is essential to get your programming team to inspect it and improve it. They will also be able to add customizations and build new features.

Overall, this way of working saves time and resources. However, it is worth noting that, due to their nature, open-source scripts can end up being less secure, with plenty of bugs, and even malicious code to serve as a backdoor. That is why it is imperative to ensure that there are security experts and experienced developers to inspect it. The most popular open-source protocol used for the design of cryptocurrency exchanges is 0x.

Built on the Ethereum blockchain, the 0x protocol ensures the swift P2P exchange of ethereum-based tokens. There are also several options for white label solutions that you can use to kickstart your cryptocurrency exchange. The good thing about them is that they are proven to work and provide you with the flexibility to add modules, customize existing features, develop new functionalities, implement new languages and supported currencies, etc.

White label solutions provide a solid foundation, consisting of a tested trade engine, wallet, admin panel, UI, charting features, third-party integrations, etc. The rest is up to you to tailor it according to the individual characteristics of your brand. White label solutions save you the trouble of having to deal with technical execution and ongoing maintenance.

Bear in mind that a proper working exchange software usually is a combination of several modules and elements trade engine, wallet, payment processing, etc. That is why using a time-tested solution often is the preferred choice. However, starting a cryptocurrency exchange is not only about figuring out the right technology. Another essential thing that you should also consider is where to do business. While many countries ban cryptocurrency-related companies from operating on their territories, several much more liberal jurisdictions have made attracting cryptocurrency exchange projects the core of their strategic development.

Malta, for example, is one of the countries with the best environment for launching a cryptocurrency exchange business. It has a dedicated portal that makes it easy to get familiar with the business climate there and helps navigate the whole process.

The welcoming environment in Malta has led to a highly positive impact as the country became the home of several cryptocurrency exchanges, such as Binance, OKEx, ZB. When choosing where to do business, make sure to figure out whether you are planning to operate locally or globally. Before setting up your plan and to avoid missing crucial information, make sure to seek legal counsel that will help you get familiar with the regulatory environment within the country where you plan to set up the exchange.

Bear in mind that you should get licensed not only by local authorities but also by the jurisdictions where you plan to conduct business. Of course, starting a cryptocurrency exchange requires additional considerations such as finding funding, organizing the operational structure, maintaining adequate customer support, dealing with third-party service providers, building liquidity, and so on.

Yet, if you figure out the technology to power your exchange, as well as where to start your business, the rest will come naturally. Answering this question, however, depends on the type of cryptocurrency that you would like to exchange for fiat. After you have sold your exotic coins for one of the leading cryptocurrencies, you will have more options. Here are the five most popular ways to turn your cryptocurrency in fiat:. This is the most popular way as most of the leading centralized cryptocurrency exchanges allow you to exchange crypto for fiat in a simple and straightforward procedure.

Exchanges that allow for purchasing crypto with fiat are referred to as On-Ramps. Coinbase , Gemini , Bitstamp , Kraken , and many others support fiat transactions. All you have to do is link a preferred payment method, such as a bank account, a PayPal or else, that you can use for fiat funding and withdrawals. Bear in mind that if you want to cash out, most crypto exchanges require you to be compliant with their KYC and AML policies.

Aside from that, some exchanges have withdrawal limits or withdrawal fees that you should take into account. Keep in mind that transfers to bank accounts take several days, but usually no more than a week. That is why, if you need to have your cash quickly, it is a better idea to consider one of the next options. The next option is P2P platforms like www. What they do is to match buyers and sellers and let them post their own bid and ask prices.

You wonder how does the exchange happen and whether there is any risk of selling your coins without receiving the payment? Aside from that, before getting into a trade, you will be able to get familiar with its terms and conditions when and how will you receive your fiat payment. The buyer will release the agreed amount of fiat in the same way. Once you receive the payment, you confirm to LocalBitcoins. If you happen to live in a city that has a crypto ATM, then you have another easy option to take advantage of.

Bitcoin ATMs are convenient ways to convert crypto to fiat. The major downside is that they charge relatively higher fees when compared to exchanges or P2P marketplaces. The difference here is that once you enter the amount you want to exchange for cash, you will be provided with a wallet address to transfer the cryptocurrency to.

After you finish the transaction, the ATM will release the cash. If the transaction takes too long to be completed, you will be provided with a redemption code that you can use and get your cash from the ATM later. The good thing with cryptocurrency ATMs is that their popularity is increasing continuously, and they are becoming widely accessible check the graph about the growth in the number of ATMs worldwide.

New Bitcoin ATMs are launched literally every day. If you want to find out where is the closest crypto ATM to you, check here. Cryptocurrency debit cards are similar to traditional debit cards. All you have to do is to top up your account with a cryptocurrency of your choice, and you will then be able to convert it into USD or another currency easily. Crypto debit cards offer numerous advantages - instant conversion from crypto to fiat, lower commission fees, accessibility that allows you to use them at ATMs or PoS systems at retailers to purchase goods and services, etc.

Bear in mind that cryptocurrency debit cards are not yet supported in all countries. If you are using a debit card in a country that is not supported, you will have to pay an additional fee for FX conversion. Aside from that, getting a debit card requires identity verification that includes submission of government-issued ID, proof of address, and other personal details that are usually collected from KYC-compliant service providers. It is worth mentioning also that getting a cryptocurrency debit card initially usually takes a bit longer when compared to the time it takes to exchange crypto for fiat via an exchange or a P2P marketplace.

Crypto debit cards also have limits on how much you can withdraw. The good thing here, though, is that you can increase the limits by passing through a stricter verification procedure. Another option worth considering is loaning out your cryptocurrencies. This works the same way as a mortgage scheme. You put your crypto as collateral and get fiat for it. Then you proceed to pay back the way you do with traditional loans. Your coins are kept under the rules of a smart contract that guarantees their safe storage.

Cryptocurrency loans are becoming increasingly popular due to the flexibility they provide. They are also preferred as they allow you to avoid a taxable event a sell of crypto but still take advantage of fiat money whenever you need it. That way you will save time and avoid paying fees should you decide to buy crypto in the future.

One of the most popular cryptocurrency loan services is Nexo. Those who decide to lend their cryptocurrencies, on the other hand, can earn daily interest. The main goal of new token projects is to get listed on a major cryptocurrency exchange, as this increases their market potential significantly.

But not every exchange can shoot token projects in the stars. That is why the competition among token projects to get listed on one of the top crypto exchanges worldwide is so fierce. So, what should you do to get a new cryptocurrency listed on an exchange? The straightforward answer to this question is that it varies depending on where you want to get your project listed. Different exchanges have different terms for including new tokens.

That is why the best thing to do is to get familiar with the requirements of each of your preferred exchanges and to approach the platforms one-by-one. Although the requirement of the separate trading venues may vary, the procedure that you must follow is pretty much the same for all of the leading exchanges. It can be summarized in the following key steps:. The first obvious step is to choose the exchange you want to get featured on. Most project owners usually aim at the top-level platforms, which is understandable, considering the skyrocket effect they can have on a particular cryptocurrency if it gets listed.

However, there are a few things to consider here, such as the competition, listing policy, and fees more on this in a moment. The next step is to apply to their programs. Try to provide as much details as possible. In a world where leading cryptocurrency platforms try to build credibility and distinguish themselves from the world of scammers, and pump-and-dump schemes, they make everything possible to stay away from listing shady or suspicious projects.

When you apply, the exchange team will usually perform a preliminary analysis of your project. Some platforms will let you know whether you qualify right away. However, others may require to go through a more in-depth review. During the detailed analysis, the listing team may require you to provide additional documents to confirm the authenticity of the information. You will, most probably, be requested to sign a non-disclosure agreement. You can also check the online form of Poloniex and Switcheo for further reference.

Exchanges list projects that are run by active companies, registered under an official jurisdiction. Aside from that, most platforms require account verification for the leading members of the team. In most cases, the legal opinion should be issued from law firms that operate in the same jurisdiction as the company that runs the project. Regarding the requirement for tokens to not be classified as securities, many platforms explicitly instruct teams to adhere to the Howey Test a precedent from a Supreme Court case that helped SEC establish a clear framework for securities classification.

In fact, the DAO tokens, one of the biggest crowdfunded cryptocurrency projects in history, failed the test and were declared securities by the SEC. Some exchanges also require for the project to pass a smart contract security audit. The procedure is pretty straightforward, and you can easily find companies that offer such a service.

However, it may take up to a month to finish the whole procedure. Also, here, we should mention the technical side of things. Most platforms require you to upload the source code of the project on GitHub. Their technical team will then perform due diligence and will come out with a statement on whether they see any potential issues.

The idea is to make sure your project is well-delivered in terms of a technical standpoint and that there are no risks for fraudulent activities malicious lines of code, security concerns, and potential backdoors or loopholes. Once you are compliant with all the requirements of the particular exchange and if your project is selected, it will get listed.

Some of them analyze on a case-by-case basis. In a bid to increase their market potential, token project owners usually try to list their assets on as many exchanges as possible from the start. However, this is not an easy task as it requires having a massive budget to cover the listing fees of each platform. Cryptocurrency exchanges currently try to exploit that niche by setting very high listing fees.

According to a Business Insider research , cryptocurrency exchange listing fees range from a few thousand dollars up to a million. As can be seen, stock market fees are clearly defined and way lower than those of crypto exchanges. This often is a stumbling block in front of projects with lower budgets, which is why many consider the market unfair. The platform lists the majority of the Ethereum-based tokens at no cost. However, the problem with decentralized exchanges, at the time of writing, is that they still struggle to generate high trading volume.

It is worth noting that there are some centralized trading platforms like Bittrex , that list projects for free. Even market leaders like Binance have made a step in the right direction by providing token issuers with the flexibility to choose the amount of the listing fee that they want to pay.

There is no minimum set by the exchange, and all collected listing fees are donated. What they do is to organize a monthly coin vote among the holders of their BNB tokens. Clients can choose one project from a list of preselected tokens and vote. Each vote costs 0. It is essential to bear in mind that, although leading platforms receive thousands of applications, they list just a few projects every week.

This only comes to show how strong the competition in the field is. So, if you get rejected, try to find out what were the reasons for that and come back with an improved application. Another thing to keep in mind is that once listed, there is no guarantee that your token will remain trading on the exchange forever.

This may happen as soon as 3 or 6 months after you have been listed. So, make sure to find the perfect timing for your launch. The potential of your idea aside, this may be due to pure market mechanics. Traders usually have a thing for newly-listed and unexplored assets as they often pose a greater risk, thus a higher profit potential. The case is the same even when a new stock is listed, as its first market direction usually is upwards although the risk there is way lower as the whole process is strictly regulated.

What this comes to show is that you must proceed with marketing your project even after it is listed. Bear in mind that the place of your project on the exchange is precious, and there are hundredths of other projects that are in the queue to take it. This basically means that you can pay the platform to promote your project among its clients, thus attract more investments.

If you think it is worth it, then go ahead and try it. If you find the whole token listing procedure too complicated or time-consuming, you can always hire a company to handle it for you. There are token listing and promotion services that guarantee that you will get listed on a particular platform and will take care of the marketing part for a certain fee.

To understand how do cryptocurrency exchanges work, we will explore the mechanics behind the two common types of digital asset trading platforms — centralized CEX and decentralized DEX. Centralized and decentralized exchanges differ from each other in their operational model and governance. Here is how each of them works:. Centralized crypto exchanges serve as intermediaries that are run by a third-party operator. Similar to traditional stock exchanges, centralized cryptocurrency exchanges connect buyers and sellers and allow them to trade coins for fiat money or other cryptocurrencies.

In order to make that happen, exchanges serve as an intermediary, ensuring the stability of the trading environment, constant monitoring of trades, order book management, and compliance with regulation in some cases. It is worth noting that different cryptocurrency exchanges offer different prices for the assets they list for trading. That is all because of the pricing mechanics. The rate at which a particular asset is traded is driven by the supply and demand on each platform.

Each exchange has its own order book that contains all buy and sell orders for all trading pairs. Usually, the highest buy price becomes the official market price bid for the particular asset. The case is the same when it comes to sell orders — the lower price at which someone wants to sell a specific cryptocurrency becomes the official market price ask.

If you want to find out what other investors are actually paying to buy cryptocurrencies, you should check the trade history. The basic rule of thumb, when it comes to crypto exchanges, is that the bigger the platform is, the fairer pricing policy it offers.

Or in other words — more liquidity means more stable and fair prices. If you want to find out the average price of Bitcoin, at the moment, you can do a Google search. What news aggregators do is to calculate an average price based on the rates for the particular asset on the most popular exchanges. The fact that the price of a specific asset can vary from one exchange to another creates arbitrage opportunities that are exploited by more advanced traders.

What they do is to buy the asset from an exchange where it is trading cheaper and to sell it on another where it is traded at a higher price. But how does the trading process on exchanges really work on practice? Upon successful verification, you will be able to fund your account and make your first trade. If you are buying, you offer a maximum price-per-BTC. On the other hand - if you are selling, you offer a minimum price-per-BTC.

All you have to do is to place your bid order. If the bid exceeds the ask price, the exchange matches them, and your transaction is executed. Centralized crypto exchanges employ the maker-taker model that allows them to charge commissions from both trade parties — the one making liquidity and the one taking liquidity. They may also charge additional fees for account deposits, withdrawals, or else. Before choosing a crypto exchange, make sure to get familiar with its fee policy.

Centralized exchanges are usually more user-friendly and the better choice for beginner traders as they provide everything needed in one place. However, over time, some people started running away from centralized crypto exchanges in a bid to get more autonomy and handle their crypto trades independently.

That is why decentralized exchanges were born. They are run by the whole community and on the principle of consensus. They are transparent as each decision is taken by voting, which helps bring the trust back into the system. Decentralized exchanges work on the principle of putting all the processes in the hands of traders. They are the ones responsible for their trades, storage of funds, transactions, etc. They even vote collectively on issues that are crucial for the development of the platform.

Decentralized crypto exchanges, most of the time, are built via an open protocol, called 0x. Most DEXs operate on the principle of smart contracts. Smart contracts are the digital form of legal agreements. This ensures that the organization remains independent, incorruptible, stable, and transparent.

Decentralized exchanges work on a P2P basis as they allow traders to interact and trade with each other, without any interference from a middleman. All it does is to provide the infrastructure where traders can execute their trades. This brings asset pricing mechanics in the hands of users. There are no additional fees to ensure the profit of the platform, which guarantees a fairer pricing model.

The major downside of decentralized crypto exchanges is their lower liquidity. This means some users may end up waiting for extended periods of time until their orders are executed, which may lead to the loss of potential profit opportunities. They are also not so user-friendly and often have trade limitations. However, they have several positives, as well. For example, their nodes are distributed, which means there is no central governing body to be the sole target of a hacker attack.

It also means there is literally no risk of platform downtime as the distributed nodes keep the infrastructure going permanently. An API is a software that ensures the smooth interaction between two sides applications or an application and a user. In the cryptocurrency world, APIs are used to build the link between two parties, such as a user and a product company, a service provider, an exchange, a market data company, a trading app, etc. In the cryptocurrency world, one of the main problems that APIs solve is related to trading information.

At Nomics, we have developed a crypto market data platform, enabling market participants such as investors, analysts, and market makers to computationally access clean and normalized primary source trade and order book data. Our API provides direct, streamlined access to price and exchange rate data from all major exchanges, including Binance , Coinbase Pro , Gemini , Poloniex , and others. The API is widely used by hedge funds, quant trading companies, fintech developers, and other market participants.

How to use a crypto exchange API depends on what you want to build with it. For example, our API provides unlimited options as you can develop and integrate mobile apps, charting tools, algorithmic trading solutions, backtesting and portfolio valuation tools, pricing portals, and informational websites. Polygon is available on Coinbase and Gemini.

Sushi, also known as SushiSwap, started as a decentralized exchange that rivaled Uniswap. Since its inception, its developers have upgraded the application to host a suite of features, with more use-cases coming out soon. What makes Sushi different than Uniswap is that Sushi pays dividends to Sushi token holders. Aside from the SushiSwap DEX, the decentralized application hosts lending markets, token launchpads and even leverage trading. There are billions of dollars in cryptocurrency locked on its blockchain, making Solana one of the largest blockchains for decentralized finance.

The main benefit of Solana over other smart contract blockchains is its focus on scalability. Solana uses a proof of stake consensus model alongside proof of history to process thousands of transactions per second.

This network allows smart contracts on Ethereum to securely connect to external data sources, APIs, and payment systems. Chainlink entered the market in under the name SmartContract. Shortly after its launch, the name changed to Chainlink to better represent the its core market. Chainlink set up a strategic partnership with Google in Chainlink is available on Coinbase and Gemini. The best cryptocurrency exchange for you depends on your needs as an investor.

S-based exchanges provide high security, typically offering 2-factor authentication and cold storage for your digital assets. Among the cryptocurrency exchanges on the market, Coinbase, Gemini and Webull are some of the best places to start investing in crypto.

Coinbase has the best user interface of the 3 choices, and its Coinbase Learn program pays investors in crypto for learning about blockchain technology! Webull, founded in , is a mobile app-based brokerage that features commission-free stock and exchange-traded fund ETF trading. Webull offers active traders technical indicators, economic calendars, ratings from research agencies, margin trading and short-selling. Founded in , Exodus is a multiasset software wallet that removes the geek requirement and keeps design a priority to make cryptocurrency and digital assets easy for everyone.

Available for desktop and mobile, Exodus allows users to secure, manage and exchange cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin BTC , Ethereum ETH and more across an industry-leading 10,plus asset pairs from a beautiful, easy-to-use wallet. Exodus is on a mission to empower half the world to exit the traditional finance system by Its social trading features are top notch, but eToro loses points for its lack of tradable currency pairs and underwhelming research and customer service features. Gemini is a cryptocurrency exchange and custodian that offers investors access to over coins and tokens.

Offerings include both major cryptocurrency projects like Bitcoin and Ethereum, and smaller altcoins like Orchid and 0x. Gemini is 1 of the only brokers with multiple platform options based on skill level. In addition to a host of platform choices, Gemini users also have access to insured hot wallets to store tokens without worrying about digital asset theft. Learn more about what Gemini can do for you in our review.

From Bitcoin to Litecoin or Basic Attention Token to Chainlink, Coinbase makes it exceptionally simple to buy and sell major cryptocurrency pairs. More advanced traders will love the Coinbase Pro platform, which offers more order types and enhanced functionality. The 1st cryptocurrency was Bitcoin, invented in by an anonymous developer named Satoshi Nakamoto. It also led to the growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies as both an investment opportunity and as a medium of exchange, a way to securely transfer money from one currency owner to another digitally and without the use of traditional banks or financial institutions.

Cryptocurrencies are designed to function as money, an alternative to the fiat currencies of the world, many of which are in various stages of erosion through inflation or are at risk of government seizure. Cryptocurrencies offer a hedge against inflation, especially in countries like Venezuela.

Cryptocurrencies offer several advantages when compared with traditional banking, money transfers, and fiat currencies. Cryptocurrencies come with a list of considerations that can help investors make safer investments. Since the blockchain industry is still in its infancy, most cryptocurrencies are highly volatile. This being said, some cryptocurrencies, like stablecoins , offer low risk investments with higher returns than riskier investments like real estate.

Cryptocurrencies and decentralized financial products are still in their formative years. Initial coin offerings can be tempting, particularly with the parabolic rises common to ICOs. Almost as common is a precipitous fall following the ICO. More established currencies help to prevent some of the volatility and provide better liquidity than found with newly minted cryptocurrencies. Many early investors have found themselves without a viable way to exit the position.

If cryptocurrencies are here to stay, some very good opportunities are likely to exist among the most commonly traded currencies, while also minimizing risk due to abandoned projects or lack of liquidity. Most cryptocurrency investors choose to hold both Bitcoin and altcoins. However, altcoins often provide higher returns during a bull market, making them attractive investments for risk-tolerant individuals.

The term altcoin refers to any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin. Craving more cryptocurrency knowledge? Benzinga crafted a specific methodology to rank cryptocurrency exchanges and tools. We prioritized platforms based on offerings, pricing and promotions, customer service, mobile app, user experience and benefits, and security. To see a comprehensive breakdown of our methodology, please visit see our Cryptocurrency Methodology page.

This content should not be interpreted as investment advice. Cryptocurrency is a volatile market, do your independent research and only invest what you can afford to lose. Want to advertise with us? Send us a message.