How Many Cryptocurrencies Are There?

The cryptocurrency universe is exploding. Over 25,000 digital currencies exist in 2025, with CoinMarketCap tracking more than 18,815 active ones. Just a decade ago? Fewer than 500. Bitcoin and Ethereum still dominate, controlling about 90% of the market. Meanwhile, thousands of crypto projects have already died – over 12,383 defunct tokens since 2013. Projections suggest 37 million crypto tokens by year's end, though most will likely become digital ghosts.

Just when you thought keeping track of traditional currencies was complicated enough, the cryptocurrency universe explodes with mind-boggling numbers. The digital asset ecosystem has grown from a handful of projects to a sprawling financial galaxy in just over a decade. Hard to believe? Let's look at the data.

As of 2025, over 25,000 cryptocurrencies exist. That's not a typo. Twenty-five thousand different digital assets, each with its own purpose, community, and market dynamics. CoinGecko reported 13,217 cryptocurrencies in March 2024, while early 2024 saw around 8,985 active cryptocurrencies. Some projections suggest an absurd 37 million crypto tokens by the end of 2025. Meanwhile, CoinMarketCap tracks over 18,815 active cryptocurrencies. According to Statista's data tracking from 2013 to January 2025, the cryptocurrency landscape has experienced significant growth with periodic fluctuations. Nobody can keep up with that.

The growth has been exponential. Back in 2013-2014, fewer than 500 cryptocurrencies existed. By the end of 2013, there were just over 50. That number jumped to approximately 500 by late 2014. The 2017-2018 bull market saw a surge to nearly 3,000 cryptocurrencies, and by early 2020, that figure had climbed past 5,000. The ease of development has contributed to this massive growth, with blockchain technology making cryptocurrency creation accessible to anyone with the technical knowledge. The crypto space moves fast. Really fast.

Despite these staggering numbers, the market remains top-heavy. Bitcoin and Ethereum dominate, with Bitcoin's market cap exceeding $650 billion in early 2025 and Ethereum sitting at about $438 billion in January 2025. The top 20 cryptocurrencies represent almost 90% of the entire market. Stablecoins alone account for $236 billion in market cap. The rest? Fighting for scraps.

Cryptocurrencies come in various types. There are coins and tokens, altcoins (anything that's not Bitcoin), stablecoins pegged to traditional assets, memecoins born from internet jokes, and DeFi tokens powering decentralized finance applications. Beyond Bitcoin, prominent options include Ethereum (ETH) with its smart contract capabilities and Solana known for high transaction speeds. It's a crowded, confusing space.

Major exchanges list only a fraction of all cryptocurrencies. Binance offers approximately 400, while Coinbase trades around 273. Globally, over 1,282 cryptocurrency exchanges operate, each with varying numbers of listed assets. New listings happen constantly.

The regulatory picture is equally complex. Nine countries have completely banned cryptocurrencies, while 39 have implicit bans. Many nations are developing their own Central Bank Digital Currencies instead.

Perhaps most telling: at least 12,383 cryptocurrencies became defunct between 2013-2025. Low trading volumes, scams, and failed ICOs contribute to this cryptocurrency graveyard. Many listed cryptocurrencies are fundamentally dead—abandoned projects with no development or trading activity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Determines a Cryptocurrency's Market Value?

Cryptocurrency market value boils down to supply and demand, plain and simple.

Limited supply (like Bitcoin's 21 million cap) meets variable demand driven by utility, adoption, and speculation. Market sentiment swings wildly with media coverage and social buzz.

Technology matters too—security, scalability, energy efficiency. And yes, regulatory acceptance helps legitimize these digital assets.

Ultimately, it's what people think something's worth. Sometimes rational, sometimes not.

Are All Cryptocurrencies Based on Blockchain Technology?

No, not all cryptocurrencies use blockchain.

While blockchain powers big names like Bitcoin and Ethereum, several alternatives exist.

Some cryptos like IOTA and Nano use Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs).

Hedera employs Hashgraph technology.

Holochain offers an agent-centric approach.

Radix DLT uses Tempo Ledger.

These alternatives often aim to solve blockchain's limitations—like scalability issues or energy consumption.

The crypto world's more diverse than most people realize.

How Do I Safely Store Different Types of Cryptocurrencies?

Storing crypto safely? Options abound.

Hardware wallets like Ledger and Trezor offer exceptional security—malware can't touch 'em.

Software wallets provide convenience but demand vigilance against hackers.

Paper wallets? Completely offline but vulnerable to physical damage. No kidding.

For extra paranoia points, try multi-signature setups that require multiple keys for transactions.

Each method has trade-offs between security and accessibility.

Choose your crypto poison carefully.

Which Cryptocurrencies Are Most Widely Accepted by Merchants?

Bitcoin dominates merchant acceptance at 58% of crypto-friendly businesses. No surprise there.

Ethereum follows as the second most popular, with Bitcoin Cash at 36% and Litecoin at 28%. Dogecoin's gaining ground too, especially after Musk's endorsement.

Why the adoption? Crypto customers spend twice as much as traditional shoppers. Plus, merchants save on transaction fees.

E-commerce leads the charge—85% of large retailers now accept some form of crypto.