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Cryptocurrency

The whole crypto market at a glance, the facts behind Bitcoin's supply, how wallets and stablecoins work, how to spot scams, and every crypto guide on FintechZoom Pro.

By (editorial team)Published Sources

Crypto market heatmap

Live data: TradingView

Live crypto heatmap loads when you scroll or tap

Bigger box = larger market value (Bitcoin, Ethereum…), green = up over 24 hours, red = down.

Crypto trades 24/7 and prices differ slightly between exchanges. Quotes can be delayed. Crypto assets are highly volatile and largely unregulated in many countries.

Compare crypto prices in US dollars

See the latest price and percentage move for five Coinbase pairs. Quotes can be delayed and vary by exchange.

Crypto prices load as you scroll.

Source TradingView crypto prices.

Bitcoin Fear & Greed Index

This daily sentiment index runs from extreme fear at 0 to extreme greed at 100. It reflects recent market conditions and can change quickly.

Daily readings load as you scroll.

Source Alternative.me’s Fear & Greed Index.

Bitcoin's fixed supply and the halving

New bitcoins are created as a reward to miners for each block they add to the blockchain. The Bitcoin protocol cuts that reward in half every 210,000 blocks, roughly every four years. This halving continues until the total supply approaches its hard cap of 21 million bitcoins, expected around the year 2140.

Miners also earn transaction fees, which become more important as the block reward shrinks. Whether halvings move the price is debated; supply is only one side of the market. Read our Bitcoin guide,Bitcoin as a portfolio asset andhow mining services work.

Protocol schedule

New bitcoins per block, by era
  • 2009 (launch)50 BTC
  • Nov 2012, 1st halving25 BTC
  • Jul 2016, 2nd halving12.5 BTC
  • May 2020, 3rd halving6.25 BTC
  • Apr 2024, 4th halving3.125 BTC
  • Next halving (expected around 2028)1.5625 BTC
    Exact date depends on block times.

Block subsidy only; transaction fees are paid on top. Source: Bitcoin protocol rules.

Where your crypto lives: wallet types

A wallet holds the private keys that control your coins. Who holds those keys decides who really controls the money.

Exchange (custodial)

The exchange holds the keys for you. Easiest to start with and needed for trading, but if the platform fails, is hacked or freezes withdrawals, you may lose access. Use well-known, regulated platforms and enable two-factor authentication.

Software (hot) wallet

An app or browser extension where you hold the keys, protected by a recovery phrase. Convenient for DeFi and payments, but always online, so phishing and malware are the main risks.

Hardware (cold) wallet

A small device that keeps keys offline and signs transactions on the device. Best suited to larger, long-term holdings. Buy only from the maker, and never type the recovery phrase into a website.

Recovery phrase

The 12 or 24 words that can restore a self-custody wallet. Anyone who has them owns your coins. Store them offline, never share them, and know that no genuine support agent will ever ask for them.

Compare options in our crypto wallet guide.

Volatility: the maths of a crash

Crypto prices can fall far and fast, and smaller coins can lose most of their value for good (seewhy so many meme coins die). Because a fall shrinks the base, the gain needed to recover is always larger than the loss. Only invest what you could afford to lose, and keepyour portfolio diversified.

Loss recovery

Gain needed to recover from a fall

Gain needed to recover100%
What $10,000 becomes$5,000

Stablecoins, DeFi and tokens in plain English

  • Stablecoins aim to track a currency, usually the US dollar, and are mostly backed by reserves held by the issuer. They are used to move money between exchanges and apps. A stablecoin is only as good as its reserves and issuer. Read the role of stablecoins and Tether (USDT).
  • Ethereum and smart contracts: programs on a blockchain that run automatically. Ethereum switched from mining to proof of stake in 2022; validators stake ETH to secure the network. See our Ethereum guide and staking milestones.
  • DeFi (decentralised finance) offers lending, trading and yield without a bank, but bugs, hacks and failed audits can wipe out funds. See DeFi risks and opportunities and smart contract audits.
  • Meme coins and fan tokens are mostly driven by attention and hype rather than cash flows. See the rise and risks of meme coins.

Spot a crypto scam

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission says only scammers demand payment in crypto, guarantee profits, or promise big returns for little risk. Fake investment platforms, romance scams and impersonated celebrities or companies are common tactics. Crypto payments usually cannot be reversed.

New to crypto? Read the top mistakes new crypto traders make and beginner portfolio ideas, and run numbers with the crypto profit calculator.

Scam check

Red flags: does this offer show any?

0 of 6 No red flags ticked. Still verify the platform with your financial regulator.

All Cryptocurrency guides (38)

Every article in this topic, A to Z.

Related hubs

Topics readers of Cryptocurrency often explore next.

Sources

  1. Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System (white paper) (Satoshi Nakamoto, bitcoin.org)
  2. Ethereum staking (ethereum.org)
  3. Crypto assets (U.S. SEC, Investor.gov)
  4. What to know about cryptocurrency and scams (U.S. Federal Trade Commission)
  5. Digital assets (U.S. CFTC)
  6. Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) (European Securities and Markets Authority)
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