How many cryptocurrencies are there? A growing industry

The first cryptocurrency appeared in 2009, and today, its name is known by almost everyone — Bitcoin. What made it so intriguing was the promise of a new kind of money: no government interference, full privacy, and everyone having the same rights within the system.

At first, Bitcoin (BTC) was not taken seriously. It wasn’t until 2013, when its price passed a few hundred dollars, that the rise of cryptos really took off, and they began spreading and multiplying globally. So, how many cryptocurrencies are there today?

How many cryptocurrencies are in the world?

Statista reports that by September 2024, the number of cryptocurrencies is getting close to 10,000. However, it’s worth noting that many of these cryptocurrencies may not be particularly relevant or active.

Statista also notes that other sources estimate there are around 20,000 cryptocurrencies in existence, though most of these are either inactive or have been discontinued.

As of early November CoinMarketCap, a leading cryptocurrency data aggregator that tracks prices, market cap, and trading volume, lists 9,916 cryptocurrencies, while CoinGecko, another popular crypto data platform known for its comprehensive market statistics, shows 15,142.

Number of coins tracked by CoinMarketCap | Source: CoinMarketCap

Figuring out exactly how many cryptos there are is tricky, since the number keeps changing, but we can say this for sure: there are way more now than there were in 2009.