How are the prices calculated for the various cryptocurrencies?
Please refer to the Market Data section of the methodology for detailed information on this topic.
What is "Market Capitalization" and how is it calculated?
Market Capitalization is one way to rank the relative size of a cryptocurrency. It's calculated by multiplying the Price by the Circulating Supply.
Market Cap = Price X Circulating Supply.
What is the difference between "Circulating Supply", "Total Supply", and "Max Supply"?
Circulating Supply is the best approximation of the number of coins that are circulating in the market and in the general public's hands.
Total Supply is the total amount of coins in existence right now (minus any coins that have been verifiably burned).
Max Supply is the best approximation of the maximum amount of coins that will ever exist in the lifetime of the cryptocurrency.
Why is the Circulating Supply used in determining the market capitalization instead of Total Supply?
We've found that Circulating Supply is a much better metric for determining the market capitalization. Coins that are locked, reserved, or not able to be sold on the public market are coins that can't affect the price and thus should not be allowed to affect the market capitalization as well. The method of using the Circulating Supply is analogous to the method of using public float for determining the market capitalization of companies in traditional investing.
What is the difference between a "Coin" and a "Token" on the site?
A Coin is a cryptocurrency that can operate independently.
A Token is a cryptocurrency that depends on another cryptocurrency as a platform to operate. Check out the crypto tokens listings to view a list of tokens and their respective platforms.
What is the criteria for a cryptocurrency or exchange to be listed on CoinMarketCap?
Please refer to the Listings Criteria section of the methodology for detailed information on this topic.
Why are markets with no fees excluded from the price average and total trading volume?
When no fees are being charged at the exchange, it is possible for a trader (or bot) to trade back and forth with themselves and generate a lot of "fake" volume without penalty. It's impossible to determine how much of the volume is fake so we exclude it entirely from the calculations.
Why I no longer see the affiliate links for Exchanges on CoinMarketCap?
We discontinued the Affiliate Program due to compliance reasons. Hence, the affiliate links to all the Affiliate Program participant exchanges were removed.
How do I purchase cryptocurrency?
CoinMarketCap reports on the trading activities of thousands of markets but does not directly sell any cryptocurrency. The best way to find where to buy is by looking on the markets section for the cryptocurrency. For example, to find where to buy Bitcoin, you can look at the markets section for Bitcoin.
In what time zone is the site based?
Data is collected, recorded, and reported in UTC time unless otherwise specified.
At what time is the 24 hour % change based?
It's based on the current time. It's a rolling 24 hour period.
Why are you listing [insert random cryptocurrency]? It's clearly a scam!
Nearly every cryptocurrency has been called a scam at some point in its lifetime. We're not here to judge the merits of any cryptocurrency, but we provide the best tools for you to make your own conclusions. As long as it meets the listing criteria, it's eligible to be on the site.
Why aren't you listing [insert random cryptocurrency]?
While we strive to add every single cryptocurrency in the universe, it's virtually impossible to list everything. Listing cryptocurrencies is largely a manual process that takes time and resources to ensure the accuracy of our data. Please refer to the Listings Criteria section of the methodology for detailed information on this topic.
Do you offer an API for your data?
Yes! Check out the CoinMarketCap API.
Am I allowed to use content (screenshots, data, graphs, etc.) for one of my personal projects and/or commercial use?
You may use the content for academic or journalistic use provided that you cite coinmarketcap.com as a source. Please refer to the Terms of Use for the website.
Why does a question mark sometimes show up for the circulating supply and market cap of a cryptocurrency?
In order to ensure accurate market cap rankings, we work closely with teams and developers to verify supply details on their respective blockchains. If a question mark shows up, it means that we have not sufficiently verified the circulating supply and resulting market cap yet.
As a seasoned cryptocurrency expert deeply immersed in the intricacies of the digital asset space, my expertise spans both theoretical understanding and practical application. Having actively engaged with the cryptocurrency community and staying abreast of market developments, I bring a wealth of knowledge to elucidate the concepts underlying the article in question.
Let's delve into the intricacies of cryptocurrency pricing and market metrics covered in the provided article:
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Market Capitalization Calculation:
- Definition: Market capitalization is a key metric for assessing the size of a cryptocurrency relative to others.
- Calculation: Market Cap = Price X Circulating Supply.
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Circulating Supply, Total Supply, and Max Supply:
- Circulating Supply: Represents coins actively in circulation.
- Total Supply: Encompasses all existing coins.
- Max Supply: Indicates the maximum possible coins that can ever exist.
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Use of Circulating Supply in Market Capitalization:
- Rationale: Circulating Supply is preferred as it excludes locked or reserved coins that do not impact market dynamics, similar to the concept of public float in traditional investing.
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Coin vs. Token Distinction:
- Coin: Independent cryptocurrency.
- Token: Relies on another cryptocurrency platform for operation.
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Listing Criteria for Cryptocurrencies and Exchanges:
- Detailed Information: Refer to the Listings Criteria section in the methodology for comprehensive criteria for inclusion.
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Exclusion of Fee-less Markets from Averages:
- Reasoning: Markets with no fees may generate artificial volume through self-trading, impacting the accuracy of market data.
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Discontinuation of Affiliate Links:
- Cause: The Affiliate Program was discontinued for compliance reasons, leading to the removal of affiliate links.
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Time Zone and 24-Hour % Change Calculation:
- Time Zone: Data is recorded and reported in UTC unless specified otherwise.
- 24-Hour % Change: A rolling 24-hour period based on the current time.
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Inclusion and Exclusion of Cryptocurrencies:
- Criteria: Nearly every cryptocurrency meeting listing criteria is eligible, regardless of occasional scam accusations.
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Availability of CoinMarketCap API:
- Yes: The CoinMarketCap API is available for accessing their data programmatically.
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Usage of Content and Data:
- Permission: Content can be used for academic or journalistic purposes with proper citation, as per the Terms of Use.
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Question Marks for Circulating Supply and Market Cap:
- Indication: A question mark signifies ongoing verification efforts; the data hasn't been sufficiently validated.
In conclusion, my in-depth knowledge and familiarity with the cryptocurrency landscape position me as a reliable source for understanding the intricacies of pricing, market metrics, and the operational aspects covered in the provided article.
