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Types of Cryptocurrency

Get a summary of popular cryptos on the market today and where to buy them.

By Rachel Warren – Updated Apr 29, 2026 at 1:11 AM EST | Fact-checked by Margo Winton Parodi

Key Points

Bitcoin introduced blockchain, enabling direct peer-to-peer payments without banks.
Crypto coins function as money on unique blockchains, while tokens support diverse applications.
Booming cryptocurrency types and quantities stem from open-source, adaptable blockchain technology.

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About the Author

Rachel Warren is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, information technology, and consumer goods. Prior to The Motley Fool, Rachel was a paralegal and legal administrator. She holds a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies from Liberty University School of Law.

Rachel Warren has positions in Alphabet and Apple. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Apple, Bitcoin, CME Group, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP. The Motley Fool recommends BNB, Coinbase Global, and TRON. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Table by author. Data source: coinmarketcap.com. Data as of Sept. 4, 2025.
Coin	Total Market Value*
Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC)	$2.19 trillion
Ethereum (CRYPTO:ETH)	$524.23 billion
Tether (CRYPTO:USDT)	$168.33 billion
XRP (CRYPTO:XRP)	$167.74 billion
Binance Coin (CRYPTO:BNB)	$117.82 billion
Solana (CRYPTO:SOL)	$111.27 billion
USD Coin (CRYPTO:USDC)	$72.62 billion
Dogecoin (CRYPTO:DOGE)	$32.30 billion
TRON (CRYPTO:TRX)	$31.95 billion
Cardano (CRYPTO:ADA)	$28.96 billion

There really isn't one "best" cryptocurrency since each has different features built in based on what the developer designed it for. Here's an overview of some of the most popular digital coins and how each is being used.

1. Bitcoin

Bitcoin is regarded as the first decentralized cryptocurrency using blockchain technology to facilitate payments and digital transactions. Instead of using a central bank to control the money supply in an economy (like the Federal Reserve in tandem with the U.S. Department of the Treasury) or third parties to verify transactions (such as your local bank, credit card issuer, and the merchant's bank), Bitcoin's blockchain acts as a public ledger of all transactions in the history of Bitcoin.

The ledger allows a party to prove they own the Bitcoin they're trying to use and can help prevent fraud and other unapproved tampering with the currency. A decentralized currency can also make peer-to-peer money transfers (like those between parties in two different countries) faster and less expensive than traditional currency exchanges involving a third-party institution.

2. Ether (Ethereum)

Ether is the token used to facilitate transactions on the Ethereum network. Ethereum is a platform that uses blockchain technology to enable the creation of smart contracts and other decentralized applications, meaning the software doesn't have to be distributed on app exchanges like Apple's (AAPL +0.68%) App Store or Alphabet's (GOOGL -1.15%)(GOOG -1.03%) Google Play Store, where they might have to give a 30% cut of any revenue to the tech giants. Ethereum is both a cryptocurrency (the actual coins are measured in units called Ether) and a software development sandbox.

3. Tether

Tether is a stablecoin, or a currency tied to a fiat currency -- in this case, the U.S. dollar. The idea behind Tether is to combine the benefits of a cryptocurrency (such as no need for financial intermediaries) with the stability of a currency issued by a sovereign government (vs. the wild price fluctuations inherent with many cryptos).