Market cap refers to the overall valuation of cryptocurrency in terms of the supply of coins. Cryptocurrencies are ranked in terms of their market cap, and this measure can also be seen amongst stocks and financial assets. Market cap is more meaningful than the price, as it holds vital information allowing both traders and investors to gain proper insight into the asset’s value.
Meaning Of Market Cap
Market cap or market capitalization is the product of the circulating supply of a cryptocurrency and its current price. It is an important metric in the world of cryptocurrency which is used in ranking these digital assets as per their relative sizes.
- Market Cap = Circulating Supply x Current Currency Price
Bitcoin’s Market Cap
Bitcoin ranks highest in the world of cryptocurrency in terms of its market cap, which has hit the $280 billion mark recently, following its price surge to $15000. Its current market value exceeds $112 billion, whereas Ethereum stands second with a market cap of $20 billion. Bitcoin’s current market cap exceeds some of the big-shot companies of the United States. It recently overtook major publicly-listed companies like PayPal, Verizon, Salesforce, Adobe, Netflix, Disney, Bank of America, and Coca-Cola.
However, it still has a long way to go before catching up on JPMorgan Chase, Mastercard, and Visa. Bitcoin has to attain a price of $23000 for reaching the market cap of $426 and surpassing these above-mentioned corporates. As per Torso Investments’ portfolio manager, Dan Weiskopf – any Bitcoin investment between $10 billion – $20 billion would be more profitable than Apple’s plan of stock buybacks. Often investors draw comparisons between Bitcoin and gold. Such comparisons have received greater impetus in the modern times of economic uncertainty. Bitcoin has to attain the price level of $38000 per BTC for surpassing the market cap of the yellow metal, which stands at around $8 to $9 trillion.
Comparison Between Price & Market Cap For Calculating Value
Price is uni-dimensional and offers information on the trading value of each coin. However, it doesn’t reflect the true value or scarcity of an asset. Whether a commodity or service is available or not determines its demand and supply equation to a great extent. Rare products are valued more compared to the ones in abundant supply. Market cap considers availability, which offers deeper insight into the digital currency’s value while you buy cryptocurrency in India.
Suppose two cryptocurrencies are worth $1, one of them has a circulating supply of 1 million, whereas the other has a circulating supply of 1 billion. The first currency will have a market cap of $1 million ($1 x 1,000,000) and the second one will have a market cap of $1 billion ($1 x 1,000,000,000). This example proves that you cannot gain an understanding of the full story by just looking at the price.
Drawbacks Of Market Cap
Market cap is an excellent metric for ranking cryptos. However, it suffers from certain loopholes which are a direct result of the inherent imperfections in circulating supplies as mentioned below:
- You cannot understand the cumulative crypto investment from its market cap. It just reveals a picture of the circulating supply’s total value at its current market price.
- The market cap changes drastically for illiquid cryptocurrencies, even with a small number of trades. This could bring a spike in the price of the crypto, and ultimately its market cap.
- As more coins are mined, its supply increases in the market. This enhances its level of supply and the market cap.
Final Words
Market cap shows a clear picture of the level of investment risk involved in a particular crypto. A high or low market cap reveals whether a coin is resistant or vulnerable to price volatility. Coins having smaller market caps are more prone to price fluctuations whenever a big news hits the market. Holders of small cap crypto are at heightened risk of being crushed by big traders whenever they conspire to sell simultaneously, causing the token price to crash. This is not the case with coins having bigger market caps like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Bitcoin live price in India as on 24.11.2020 is 1,386,782 INR and investors can be guaranteed that the price of this premier crypto won’t be manipulated that easily. While sudden alterations in a coin’s circulating supply can cause the market cap to change drastically, it is still considered to be the best metric of ranking coins and holding comparisons of their overall value.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How Safe Are Cryptocurrencies?
Cryptocurrencies can be safe, but your crypto wallets can be hacked if proper security steps are not performed. There are also dangers and uncertainties associated with investments, and we cannot declare any virtual currency investment risk-free. Buying and selling cryptocurrencies does not have to be dangerous if the trader is well-versed in the market and treats his coins with care.
Is Mining Cryptocurrency Legal?
Cryptocurrency mining can be time-consuming, expensive, and sporadically profitable. Mining has an appeal for many cryptocurrency enthusiasts as miners are paid directly with crypto tokens for their efforts. The legality of cryptocurrency mining is dependent on where you live. In India, there is no restriction on crypto mining.
Is Pi Cryptocurrency Safe?
Pi Network captured the crypto community’s interest even before it officially debuted. Its innovative mobile mining approach and user-friendly design simplify crypto adoption for a broader audience. Some users see this as a chance to get engaged in the crypto from the beginning and profit in the future, similar to how early Bitcoin adopters made huge profits by mining and keeping the coin. Other users have compared Pi to a worthless multi-level marketing (MLM) scheme.
Who Invented Cryptocurrency?
Satoshi Nakamoto invented cryptocurrencies and the technology that makes them function in 2009. The presumed pseudonymous individual or persons who invented Bitcoin used this identity. In addition, Nakamoto created the first blockchain database. Even though many people have claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto, the person's identity remains unknown.
How Cryptocurrency Works?
Cryptocurrencies use cryptography technology to keep transactions and their units (tokens) secure. Cryptocurrency works via a technology called the blockchain. A blockchain is a decentralized technology that handles and records transactions across numerous computers. The security of this technology is part of its value.
Is crypto legal?
Crypto is legal in most countries, including India. While nations like the U.S. and many in Europe have regulatory frameworks, others like China have strict bans.
What Is Cryptocurrency?
A cryptocurrency is a digital currency secured by encryption, due to which chances of activities such as counterfeiting and double-spending taking place get close to impossible. Cryptocurrencies get created on blockchain technology ( a distributed ledger enforced by a distributed network of computers). Cryptocurrencies are unique in that they do not get issued by any central authority. The term "cryptocurrency" comes from the encryption techniques used to keep digital currencies and the network safe.
Is Cryptocurrency Legal In India?
In India, cryptocurrencies are legal; anyone can purchase, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies. They are currently unregulated; India does not have a regulatory framework in place to regulate its functioning. According to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), companies must now declare their crypto trading/investments during the financial year, according to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). Cryptocurrency transactions have been taxable in India when people receiving such gains are Indian tax residents or where the crypto is considered to be domiciled in India
Are Cryptocurrencies A Good Investment?
Cryptocurrency has the potential to make you extremely wealthy, and the potential to cause you to lose your money. Crypto assets, like any other investment, come with many risks and potential rewards. Fundamentally, cryptocurrency is an excellent investment, particularly if you want to gain direct exposure to the demand for digital currency.
Is Bitcoin And Cryptocurrency The Same Thing?
Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency that was designed to facilitate cross-border transactions, eliminate government control over transactions, and streamline the entire process without third-party intermediaries. The absence of intermediaries has resulted in a significant reduction in transaction costs. Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin, created the first cryptocurrency in 2008. It began as open-source software for money transfers. Since then, plenty of cryptocurrencies have emerged, with some focusing on specific fields.
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency is not a legal tender and is currently unregulated. Kindly ensure that you undertake sufficient risk assessment when trading cryptocurrencies as they are often subject to high price volatility. The information provided in this section doesn't represent any investment advice or WazirX's official position. WazirX reserves the right in its sole discretion to amend or change this blog post at any time and for any reasons without prior notice.
