BACKGROUND
Last updated
Last updated
The cryptocurrency market is evolving, and its market capitalization was estimated to US$268.23 billion on March 31st, 2018. Since the introduction of Bitcoin in January 2009, thousands of cryptocurrencies have existed at some point and today, there are hundreds of cryptocurrencies with a market value that are being traded. Still, Bitcoin is the undoubtful leader representing approx. 45% of the total market capitalization.
CRYPTOCURRENCIES MARKET CAPITALIZATION: $268.23 BILLION – MARCH 2018 Bitcoin – 45%
The current number of unique active users of cryptocurrency wallets is estimated to be between 2.9 million and 5.8 million, according to the latest report by Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance.
Although it is almost impossible to know precisely how many people use cryptocurrency, using data obtained from study participants and assuming that an individual holds on average two wallets, Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance estimated that there were between 2.9 million and 5.8 million unique users actively using a cryptocurrency wallet in 2017.
THE ESTIMATED NUMBER OF UNIQUE ACTIVE USERS OF CRYPTOCURRENCY WALLETS HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE 2013 TO BETWEEN 2.9 MILLION AND 5.8 MILLION TODAY
By August 2017, market value of the global cryptocurrencies has reached $100 billion; meanwhile the worldwide daily exchange volume has reached an astonishing $5 billion. Other than Bitcoin, new cryptocurrencies with new technologies and features have been emerging vigorously in recent years. And their total value and exchange volume has gone over 50% of the global market. Currently, the daily exchange volume of each worldwide top 10 platform has already reached $100 million and maintained the prosperous development. Based on the calculation of 0.1% commission, the daily income of a vibrant platform shall reach $100,000.
A multitude of projects and companies have emerged to provide products and services that facilitate the use of cryptocurrency for mainstream users and build the infrastructure for applications running on top of public blockchains. While the cryptocurrency industry is composed of many important actors and groups,
there are four key cryptocurrency industry sectors today:
• Exchanges
• Wallets
•Payments Companies
• Mining