Cryptocurrency Markets

How the cryptocurrency market works

The cryptocurrency market is a global, always-on marketplace where thousands of digital assets are bought and sold around the clock. Unlike stock markets, it never closes — there is no opening bell and no weekend break. Prices are set continuously by supply and demand across hundreds of exchanges worldwide, which is why crypto can move sharply at any hour. The table above ranks the 100 largest assets so you can see the market’s structure at a glance.

Market capitalisation explained

The most important number for comparing cryptocurrencies is market capitalisation — the current price multiplied by the circulating supply. Market cap, not the price per coin, tells you how large an asset really is. A coin priced in fractions of a cent can be worth more in total than one priced in the thousands, simply because it has far more coins in circulation. Ranking by market cap is the standard way to understand the pecking order of the market.

What moves crypto prices

Crypto prices respond to a mix of forces: plain supply and demand; macroeconomic conditions such as interest rates and the strength of the US dollar; regulatory news and government policy; technological developments and network upgrades; on-chain activity like exchange inflows and large-holder movements; and raw market sentiment. Because the asset class is young and relatively thinly traded compared with global stocks, it tends to react faster and more violently to all of these than traditional markets do.

Bitcoin dominance and “altcoin season”

Bitcoin dominance measures Bitcoin’s share of the total crypto market cap. When dominance rises, money is flowing toward Bitcoin — often a sign of caution. When it falls, capital is rotating into altcoins, a phase traders call “altcoin season,” when smaller coins can outperform. Watching dominance alongside the total market cap helps you understand not just whether the market is up or down, but where the money is going.

Stablecoins and liquidity

Stablecoins such as USDT and USDC are pegged to the US dollar and act as the market’s plumbing. They let traders move in and out of positions without converting to fiat, and their combined value and volume are a useful gauge of how much “dry powder” is sitting ready to buy. A growing stablecoin supply can signal capital waiting on the sidelines.

Trading volume and what it tells you

The 24-hour volume column shows how much of each asset changed hands in the last day. High volume means deep liquidity — you can trade without moving the price much — and signals genuine interest. Low volume means thin markets, where prices can swing on relatively small orders and are easier to manipulate. Always weigh a price move against the volume behind it.

Market cycles: bull and bear

Crypto has historically moved in long cycles of boom and bust. Bull markets bring rising prices, optimism and a flood of new participants; bear markets bring falling prices, fear and consolidation. These cycles have often — though not always — been linked to Bitcoin’s roughly four-year halving schedule. No one can reliably time the top or bottom, which is why risk management and a long-term plan matter more than predictions.

How to use this markets page

Use the table to scan the market quickly: rank, price, short- and medium-term performance, market cap, volume and a 7-day trend line for each coin. Click any asset to open its dedicated page with live charts, full statistics and a data-driven price prediction. Pair this page with the Fear & Greed Index for sentiment and the converter to value your holdings. Remember that everything here is information, not financial advice.