IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. An initial coin offering (ICO) is a way for founders of a new cryptocurrency to raise capital for their project, in exchange for their currency’s tokens. The project may solely be devoted to their new cryptocurrency or may span multiple blockchain applications. XRP (XRP 2.80%) is another beaten-down cryptocurrency that seemed to be on a rocket ship to the double-digit price range.

Fintech: Financial Technology Research Guide

Bitcoin is currently mined at a rate of 12.5 new coins for every verified block, with the reward halving roughly every four years (the final bitcoins will be mined around the year 2140). Ripple coins, on the other hand, were pre-mined by its founders and are currently being released at a rate of one billion per month. As a result, it might take as long as five years for these two cryptocurrencies to double in value.

Cryptocurrencies are mostly used for speculating (trading) on price movements. While the intended use was originally for online payments, uptake has been slow and few retailers accept them. There are many reasons why this is the case, including strict regulations, accessibility of the coins, infrastructure, and stability – cryptocurrencies are very volatile. This could change in future, especially if ‘stablecoins’ prove to be successful.

Cryptocurrencies That Could Double Over the Next 5 Years

As the harbinger of the cryptocurrency era, Bitcoin is still the coin people generally reference when they talk about digital currency. Its mysterious creator — allegedly Satoshi Nakamoto — introduced the currency in 2009 and it’s been on a roller-coaster ride since then. However, it wasn’t until 2017 that the cryptocurrency broke into broader popular consciousness. In 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the trading of ETFs that invest directly in Bitcoin, giving investors an easy way to bet on Bitcoin. This section of the FinTech guide briefly covers cryptocurrency (like “Bitcoin”) and blockchain technology (a protocol for a peer-to-peer electronic cash system). If you’ve decided crypto is right for your portfolio, choosing which cryptocurrency to buy can involve juggling a lot of details.

• Launched in 2009, bitcoin was the first decentralised cryptocurrency.
• SEC fillings and other documents provided by Quartr.© 2026 TradingView, Inc.
• The following sources from the internet and from the print collections at the Library of Congress are useful in learning more about cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies.
• The benefit is that the user can keep private keys (essentially passwords that give access to cryptocurrency tokens) offline, where they cannot be hacked.
• Bitcoin, for example, uses a ‘proof-of-work’ algorithm, which is very energy intensive.

Follow us online

Tether often acts as a medium when traders move from one cryptocurrency to another. However, some people are concerned that Tether isn’t safely backed by dollars held in reserve but instead uses a short-term form of unsecured debt. Bitcoin cash is a standalone digital currency, created as an offshoot of bitcoin in August 2017 by a ‘hard fork’. This was in response to the slowdown in bitcoin transaction speeds and the network’s inability to reach consensus on proposed upgrades.

Responsibility for processing and other operations is distributed across the network, which its designers claim will enable it to scale to millions of transactions per second in the future. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. Our websites may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. Other factors, such as our proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range, can also impact how and where products appear on this site.

Since then, thousands more cryptocurrencies, known as altcoins, have launched. Originally created as a joke after the run-up in Bitcoin, Dogecoin takes its name https://immediategrowth-app.org/capiturex/ from an internet meme featuring a Shiba Inu dog. Unlike many digital currencies limiting the number of coins in existence, Dogecoin has unlimited issuance. Bitcoin gets all the headlines when people talk about cryptocurrencies, but there are literally thousands of other options when it comes to these digital currencies. In fact, cryptos that aren’t Bitcoin are usually considered an “also-ran” — what are called “altcoins,” or alternatives to Bitcoin.

Theoretically, all of them are prime candidates to double in value over the next five years, if not sooner. The cryptocurrency market is a Wild West, so those speculating in these digital assets should not put in more money than they can afford to lose. It’s also important to note that individual investors often trade against highly sophisticated players, making it a fraught experience for novices.