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Crypto Basics

Coin Market Cap: A Complete Guide for Smarter Crypto Investing in 2025

Learn how to use coin market cap to compare cryptocurrencies, assess opportunities, and make smarter investment decisions in 2025 with AI-powered insights.
Token Metrics Team
6 min
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Introduction to Coin Market Cap

In the fast-paced world of cryptocurrency investing, market capitalization, often called market cap, is one of the most essential metrics for evaluating projects. It helps investors quickly gauge a coin’s size, value, and growth potential, making it a cornerstone for portfolio allocation and risk management.

Whether you’re a beginner trying to understand which cryptocurrencies to buy or an experienced trader managing a complex portfolio, understanding coin market cap is critical. In this guide, we’ll break down what market cap is, how to use it effectively, its limitations, and how platforms like Token Metrics can enhance your analysis with advanced data insights.

What Is Coin Market Cap?

Market capitalization refers to the total value of a cryptocurrency in circulation. It’s calculated using a simple formula:

Market Cap=Current PriceĂ—Circulating Supply\text{Market Cap} = \text{Current Price} \times \text{Circulating Supply}

For example, if a cryptocurrency is priced at $20 and has 50 million coins in circulation, its market cap would be $1 billion. This figure provides a snapshot of the project’s relative size and its standing in the broader crypto market.

Market cap is an invaluable metric for quickly comparing projects, identifying potential opportunities, and understanding the level of risk associated with an investment.

Why Market Cap Matters in Crypto

Market cap plays a crucial role in crypto investing for several reasons:

  1. Assessing Project Size:
    It indicates whether a cryptocurrency is large-cap (established and relatively stable), mid-cap (moderate growth potential), or small-cap (high risk and high reward).

  2. Determining Growth Potential:
    Comparing market caps across similar projects can highlight undervalued assets with room to grow.

  3. Portfolio Allocation:
    By understanding the market cap of various assets, you can balance your portfolio between high-risk small caps and more stable large caps.

  4. Benchmarking Performance:
    Market cap allows you to compare assets within the same category—for example, evaluating competing layer 1 blockchains or AI tokens.

Types of Cryptocurrencies by Market Cap

Cryptocurrencies are typically categorized by their market cap:

  • Large-Cap Cryptos (>$10 Billion):
    These are well-established, widely adopted coins like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Binance Coin (BNB). They tend to be less volatile and serve as the “blue chips” of crypto.

  • Mid-Cap Cryptos ($1–10 Billion):
    These include projects like Polygon (MATIC), Arbitrum (ARB), and Chainlink (LINK). They balance growth potential with relatively lower risk than small caps.

  • Small-Cap Cryptos (<$1 Billion):
    These high-risk, high-reward tokens often include emerging narrative-driven coins like Token Metrics AI (TMAI) or experimental DeFi projects. They can deliver significant returns but also carry a higher chance of failure.

How to Use Market Cap in Investment Decisions

While market cap is only one part of the puzzle, it’s a powerful tool when used correctly. Here’s how to incorporate it into your strategy:

  1. Identify Undervalued Assets:
    Look for coins with strong fundamentals and low market caps relative to competitors. For example, an innovative AI project like TMAI with a market cap significantly lower than its peers could signal untapped potential.

  2. Balance Risk and Reward:
    Allocate funds across large-, mid-, and small-cap assets. Large caps bring stability, while mid- and small caps provide growth opportunities.

  3. Track Sector Trends:
    Monitor market caps by category (e.g., AI tokens, DeFi protocols, Layer 2 scaling solutions) to identify which sectors are gaining traction.

  4. Compare Projects:
    Use market cap to evaluate competitors within the same niche. For instance, comparing Polygon and Arbitrum can help assess which layer 2 solution has more market trust.

Limitations of Using Market Cap

Although market cap is a useful metric, it has its shortcomings:

  1. No Liquidity Insights:
    A high market cap doesn’t always mean easy liquidity. Some tokens with large caps may have thin trading volumes, making them hard to buy or sell.

  2. Doesn’t Reflect Token Distribution:
    Market cap doesn’t account for how tokens are distributed. A project with concentrated ownership may have inflated prices that don’t reflect real demand.

  3. Ignores Project Fundamentals:
    Market cap alone won’t tell you if a project has strong technology, an active user base, or real-world utility.

This is why market cap analysis should always be combined with other key metrics and qualitative research, which is where Token Metrics becomes invaluable.

Enhancing Market Cap Analysis with Token Metrics

While traditional market cap data offers a snapshot, Token Metrics goes deeper by analyzing:

  • On-Chain Metrics: Active wallets, transaction volumes, and network growth.
  • Technical Analysis: AI-driven price predictions based on historical and real-time data.
  • Fundamental Analysis: Project utility, team credibility, and adoption potential.
  • Token Grades: Proprietary scoring that evaluates over 80 data points per token.

This AI-powered approach allows investors to identify truly undervalued projects that might be overlooked by simply glancing at market cap.

Market Cap vs. Other Key Metrics

Market cap is most powerful when used alongside:

  • Trading Volume: Indicates liquidity and investor interest.
  • Fully Diluted Valuation (FDV): Projects with low circulating supply but high FDV might face inflationary pressures.
  • Total Value Locked (TVL): For DeFi tokens, TVL shows how much capital is actively being used in protocols.

Combining these insights with market cap offers a more complete view of a project’s health and potential.

Practical Steps for Using Market Cap in 2025

  1. Start with Large Caps:
    Anchor your portfolio with stable large-cap assets like BTC and ETH.

  2. Explore Mid- and Small-Caps:
    Use Token Metrics to identify emerging projects with strong fundamentals and room for growth.

  3. Diversify by Sector:
    Allocate to different narratives—AI tokens like TMAI, DeFi coins, and scaling solutions—to spread risk.

  4. Reassess Regularly:
    Crypto markets move quickly. Track changing market caps to adjust your allocations proactively.

Conclusion

Coin market cap remains one of the most fundamental metrics for analyzing cryptocurrencies. It provides a clear picture of project size and helps investors allocate capital effectively.

However, market cap alone isn’t enough. To make smarter, data-driven decisions, investors should combine market cap insights with on-chain data, technical analysis, and AI-driven insights from Token Metrics.

In 2025, using market cap alongside advanced analytics can help you identify undervalued opportunities, manage risk effectively, and build a balanced, growth-oriented crypto portfolio.

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About Token Metrics
Token Metrics: AI-powered crypto research and ratings platform. We help investors make smarter decisions with unbiased Token Metrics Ratings, on-chain analytics, and editor-curated “Top 10” guides. Our platform distills thousands of data points into clear scores, trends, and alerts you can act on.
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Recent Posts

NFTs

Best NFT Marketplaces - 10 Marketplaces for NFTs in 2023

Token Metrics Team
5 minutes

As the world of cryptocurrency continues to evolve and the blockchain revolution continues to gain traction, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are becoming increasingly popular. NFTs are digital assets that are stored on the blockchain and are unique and non-interchangeable. They are used to represent everything from art, music, videos, and digital collectibles. With the rise of NFTs, more and more people are looking for the best NFT marketplaces to buy and sell their NFTs. If you are someone who is also looking for the top NFT marketplaces to buy, sell, and trade NFTs on, this is the place to be.

In this article, we’ll take a look at what an NFT marketplace is and how they work. We’ll also provide a list of the best NFT marketplaces, so you can find the perfect place to buy or sell your digital artwork.

What Is an NFT Marketplace?

An NFT marketplace is a digital platform specifically designed to facilitate the sale and purchase of NFTs or Non-Fungible Tokens. NFTs are digital artworks that are created, bought, and sold on these marketplaces. They are unique digital tokens that are stored on the blockchain and can be bought, sold, and traded. It is the perfect place to find and purchase digital art works created by talented artists from around the world.

The concept of NFTs has been around for a few years, but it has only recently started to gain traction. As more people become aware of the potential of NFTs, the demand for these marketplaces is increasing. There are now many different NFT marketplaces available, each offering something unique and different.

NFT marketplaces are a great way to find and purchase unique digital artwork from talented artists. They are also a great way to invest in digital art, as NFTs can be bought, sold, and traded for a profit.

How Do NFT Marketplaces Work?

NFT marketplaces work by connecting buyers and sellers of digital artwork. Buyers can browse through the different artworks available, and then purchase the artwork they like. The artwork is stored on the blockchain, and the buyer receives a unique token that represents the artwork. This token can then be used to buy, sell, or trade the artwork.

When a buyer purchases an artwork, the money goes to the artist who created the artwork. The marketplace then takes a small commission for facilitating the transaction. The commission varies from marketplace to marketplace, but usually, it is around 5-10%.

The artwork is stored on the blockchain, and the buyer receives a unique token that represents the artwork. This token can then be used to buy, sell, or trade the artwork. The token can also be used as a form of digital currency and can be exchanged for other digital assets like cryptocurrencies.

NFT marketplaces are a great way to find, buy, and sell digital artwork. They are also a great way to invest in digital art, as NFTs can be bought, sold, and traded for a profit.

Why Is It Important to Understand the Best NFT Marketplaces?

It is important to understand the best NFT marketplaces because they provide users with a secure, user-friendly platform to buy and sell NFTs. The marketplaces also provide users with access to a variety of services such as NFT auctions, NFT staking, NFT creation, and more.

The best NFT marketplaces also provide users with the option to purchase NFTs using cryptocurrency. This makes it easier for users to purchase NFTs without having to rely on traditional currency. The marketplaces also make it easy for users to store and manage their NFTs.

Finally, the NFT marketplaces also provide users with access to a wide variety of NFTs. This allows users to easily find and purchase the NFTs they are looking for.

List of Best NFT Marketplaces

The following is a list of the best NFT marketplaces for 2023. All of these marketplaces offer something unique and different and are great places to find and purchase digital artworks.

  1. OpenSea: OpenSea launched in 2017 and became one of the most popular NFT marketplaces. It has a wide selection of digital art, ranging from digital collectibles to digital artwork. OpenSea also has a built-in auction system, which makes it easy to buy and sell digital artwork.‍
  2. Magic Eden: Magic Eden started as an NFT marketplace for Solana but now supports multiple blockchains to buy, sell, and trade NFTs on.
  3. Rarible: Rarible launched in 2020 and became an important marketplace for digital art. It has a huge selection of digital artwork from talented artists, and it also has a built-in auction system with 0% fees.  ‍
  4. SuperRare: SuperRare is another popular NFT marketplace launched in 2018, powered by a community of artists, curators, collectors and partners.
  5. ‍MakersPlace: MakersPlace marketplace launched in 2018, for rare, authentic and curated digital art. It’s a great place for renown artists powered by blockchain technology.‍
  6. Foundation: Foundation is an NFT marketplace launched in 2021, that specializes in digital collectibles. It has a large selection of digital collectibles with a built-in auction system.‍‍
  7. ‍Decentraland: Decentraland launched in 2020. It is a virtual destination for digital assets. You can buy land, estates, avatar wearables and names in the Decentraland Marketplace.‍
  8. Sorare: Sorare is another NFT marketplace launched in 2019 that specializes in digital collectibles where you can collect, play and win officially licensed digital cards featuring the world's best global football, NBA and MLB players.‍
  9. Dapper Labs: Dapper Labs was founded in 2018. It uses the power of play to deliver blockchain-based experiences and digital collectibles that are made for you and ready for the real world.
  10. Nifty Gateway: Nifty Gateway is another NFT marketplace you can use. It offers a diverse range of art and collectible NFTs which are available as Curated Drops.

Conclusion

NFT marketplaces are a great way to find, buy, and sell digital artwork. They are also a great way to invest in digital art, as NFTs can be bought, sold, and traded for a profit.

Whether you’re looking to buy digital artwork or invest in digital art, these marketplaces are the perfect place to start. So why wait? Start exploring these marketplaces and find the perfect NFT for you today.

Crypto Basics

How to Invest in Cryptocurrency - A Step by Step Guide

Token Metrics Team
8 minutes

If you are wondering how to invest in the cryptocurrency space, this is the perfect place to be.

As the world of cryptocurrency continues to expand, it is important to understand what to consider before investing in cryptocurrency. This guide will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the most important things to consider before investing in cryptocurrency, including what to look for in a potential investment, alternative ways to buy a crypto, how to keep your cryptocurrency secure, and tips for investing responsibly.

Introduction to Cryptocurrency Investing

Cryptocurrency investing can be an exciting and potentially profitable venture. But it's important to understand the risks associated with investing in cryptocurrency and the steps you should take before investing your hard-earned money. Cryptocurrency investing is a relatively new concept and the market is constantly evolving. It's important to do your research and understand the potential risks and rewards before jumping in.

In order to make an educated decision about whether or not cryptocurrency investing is right for you, you need to understand the basics of cryptocurrency investing. A cryptocurrency is a form of digital currency that is not controlled by any central authority, such as a government or bank. Instead, it is created and maintained by a decentralized network of computers that use cryptography to secure transactions. Cryptocurrency is typically exchanged for goods and services, or for other forms of currency.

There are a few key differences between cryptocurrency and traditional currencies. For one, cryptocurrency is not backed by any physical asset, such as gold or a government-issued currency. Additionally, cryptocurrency is not regulated by any government or financial institution. This means that the value of cryptocurrencies can be highly volatile and unpredictable, which can make investing in them a risky endeavor.

What to Consider Before Investing in Cryptocurrency

Before investing in cryptocurrency, it is important to understand the risks associated with it. Cryptocurrency is not backed by any physical asset, so its value is highly volatile and unpredictable. This means that investments can quickly lose value, and there is no guarantee that you will get your money back. Additionally, cryptocurrency is not regulated by any government or financial institution, so it can be difficult to know who to trust and who to avoid.

When considering whether or not to invest in cryptocurrency, it's important to understand the different types of cryptocurrencies available. There are thousands of different cryptocurrencies on the market, each with its own set of characteristics and features. It's important to research each type of cryptocurrency and determine which one might be the best fit for your investment goals.

You should also consider the cost of investing in cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency is a global market, so the cost of investing in it can vary significantly from one country to the next. Additionally, different exchanges may charge different fees for trading. It's important to research the fees associated with each exchange to ensure you are getting the best deal.

Finally, it's important to understand the potential tax implications of investing in cryptocurrency. Many countries have different regulations regarding the taxation of cryptocurrency investments, so it is important to understand the rules in your area before investing.

Alternative Ways to Buy Cryptocurrency

When it comes to investing in cryptocurrency, there are a few different ways to go about it. The most popular way to purchase cryptocurrency is through an online exchange. These exchanges are typically easy to use and offer a variety of different cryptocurrencies. Additionally, some exchanges offer lower fees than others, so it's important to shop around for the best deal.

Another option for investing in cryptocurrency is to purchase it directly from an individual. This can be done through a peer-to-peer platform, such as LocalBitcoins. This allows you to purchase cryptocurrency directly from another individual, without having to go through an exchange. However, this method can be riskier than using an exchange, as there is no guarantee that the person you are purchasing from is legitimate.

Finally, there are some platforms that allow you to purchase cryptocurrency with a credit or debit card. This is typically the easiest and most convenient way to purchase cryptocurrency, but it also has some drawbacks. Credit and debit card purchases typically come with higher fees than other methods, and the transactions can be reversed if the seller does not deliver the cryptocurrency as promised.

The 5-Step Process of Crypto Investing

Follow this 5-step process to make first cryptocurrency investment.

Step #1 Choose a Broker or Crypto Exchange

If you are new to crypto, you can start off by choosing a broker or a crypto exchange. Although both serve the same purpose, there is a tiny difference between them.

Cryptocurrency Exchange is a third-party company that can help you invest in crypto with a convenience fee. Both buyers and sellers can actively trade cryptocurrencies using the platform. Having said that, make sure to learn enough about the standard crypto trading platforms before investing.

Step #2: Create and Authenticate Your Account

Once you are set with the platform, now you have to simply create an account and then authenticate yourself to start hassle free trading. 

Step #3: Link Your Bank Account to Your Crypto Account 

Now that you have verified your account, it is time to add your bank account or use a debit card to ensure cash deposit to invest in crypto. 

Step #4: Place Your Cryptocurrency Order

Yes! You are almost there. You just need to take one more step of placing your cryptocurrency order to start your trade. You can enter the ticker symbols, such as BTC for Bitcoin, and invest as you please. 

Step #5: Choose Your Storage Method

Since cryptocurrency exchanges are not regulated or secured widely, it is essential that you choose an appropriate storage method to avoid the risk of theft or hacking. It is best to store cryptocurrencies offline or in a cold wallet like Ledger.

How to Keep Your Cryptocurrency Secure?

Once you have purchased your cryptocurrency, it is important to take steps to keep it secure. The first step is to create a secure wallet to store your cryptocurrency. There are a variety of different wallets available, so you should research each one and determine which one is best for your needs.

Once you have chosen a wallet, it is important to create a strong password and keep it safe. This password should be unique and difficult to guess. Additionally, you should enable two-factor authentication whenever possible. This will require a second form of verification, such as a code sent to your phone, before you can access your wallet.

It is also important to keep your wallet backed up. Many wallets offer the ability to export your funds to a secure backup. This will ensure that you can recover your funds if something were to happen to your wallet. You should also keep your wallet updated with the latest security patches to help ensure that your funds are safe.

Tips for Investing Responsibly

Cryptocurrency investing can be an exciting and potentially lucrative venture, but it's important to invest responsibly. Before investing, it's important to understand the risks associated with cryptocurrency investing, such as the potential for highly volatile prices. Additionally, it's important to understand the tax implications of investing in cryptocurrency and ensure that you are following all applicable laws.

It's also important to diversify your investments. Rather than investing all your money into a single cryptocurrency, it's wise to spread your investments across a variety of different coins and tokens. This will help to reduce your risk and ensure that you are diversifying your portfolio.

Finally, it's important to invest only what you can afford to lose. The cryptocurrency market is highly unpredictable, so there is always the potential for losses. It's important to remember that investing in cryptocurrency is a long-term process and that short-term gains should not be your primary focus.

As an investor, you need an acute understanding of what could be the potential cryptocurrencies that make you good fortune. And for that, you need to dig deeper into analyzing hundreds of coins to know and understand the best investments to make. 

We help with that. Token Metrics is an AI-based crypto-research platform that can save you hours of research and bring you accurate data to make an informed decision. 

Click here to get ahold of the BEST plans available for crypto investors like you. 

Conclusion

Cryptocurrency investing can be an exciting and potentially profitable venture, but it's important to understand the risks and rewards before investing your hard-earned money. This guide has provided you with a comprehensive overview of the most important things to consider before investing in cryptocurrency, including what to look for in a potential investment, alternative ways to buy cryptocurrency, how to keep your cryptocurrency secure, and tips for investing responsibly. With the right knowledge and strategies, you can invest in cryptocurrency with confidence and reap the rewards of a successful investment.

Research

Cryptocurrency Taxes - How is Crypto Taxed? Explained

Token Metrics Team
5 Minutes

Crypto is a huge industry that covers everything from technology to currencies, and even how it's taxed. First off, you don’t owe taxes on crypto if you’re merely “hodling,” as aficionados would say. But if you’ve gained any income from crypto in a financial  year — either from staking, lending, or selling — you may owe taxes on the proceeds.

The IRS treats all cryptocurrencies as capital assets, and that means you owe capital gains taxes when they’re sold at a profit. This is exactly what happens when you sell more traditional securities, like stocks or funds, for a gain.

Let’s say you bought $1,000 in Ethereum and then sold the coins later for $1,600. You’ll need to report that $600 capital gain on your taxes. The taxes you owe depend on the length of time you held your coins.

If you held your ETH for one year or less, the $600 profit would be taxed as a short-term capital gain. Short-term capital gains are taxed the same as regular income — and that means your adjusted gross income (AGI) determines the tax rate you pay.

Federal income tax brackets top out at a rate of 37%. To be in the top bracket for 2023, you would need to make $578,126 or more as a single filer.

In this article, we'll discuss some of the basics of how crypto is taxed. We'll also go through tips for saving tax when dealing with cryptocurrencies.

Crypto Is Taxed in Two Ways

There are two ways to tax crypto: as property and as a commodity.

Property taxes apply when you buy, sell or trade cryptocurrencies. Commodity taxes apply if you use your crypto to pay for goods or services — for example buying things from Amazon with Bitcoin.

How Is Crypto Taxed?

Cryptocurrency is taxed as property. This means that you can claim the fair market value of your cryptocurrency in the year it was acquired and later sold or exchanged for other cryptocurrencies, fiat currency, or goods/services.

Cryptocurrency is not taxed as a currency. The income tax treatment of cryptocurrencies varies depending on whether you're purchasing them through an exchange (such as Coinbase), mining them yourself, or earning them through another activity like freelance work.

If you mine coins yourself, they are considered capital gains and reported on Schedule D with other business assets held at fair market value when sold off at their peak price during 2017-2018; however, if they were mined during 2014-2015 then they would be treated like ordinary income instead since there weren't any real-world uses for this type of digital money yet back then!

Cryptocurrencies may be considered business income under Section 199A(a)(1)(B) which exempts certain trades done by non-corporate entities from taxation but only if those trades meet specific criteria such as being done "for consideration" (defined below). In order for something to qualify under section 199A(a)(1)(B), two conditions must be met: 1) You must have received payment/gains derived from selling goods/services 2) Those gains were derived from selling goods/services that had been produced either domestically located within United States territory OR imported into United States territory AND THEN EXPORTED OUTSIDE OF US TERRITORY.

What Happens if You Don’t Report Cryptocurrency on Taxes?

If you don't report cryptocurrency on taxes, you could face a penalty. This can range from a fine to jail time for tax evasion and other criminal charges, depending on the laws in your country. In addition to facing criminal penalties for failing to report crypto income, there are also some civil penalties that apply if you don't pay back taxes owed from crypto-based income:

  • Interest accrued on any unpaid taxes owed by late payment
  • Amounts owed in restitution (if applicable)

Tips to Save Tax on Your Crypto Gains

  • Keep a record of your crypto transactions.
  • Use a crypto tax software to calculate your taxes.
  • Invest in tax-advantaged retirement accounts, such as an employer-sponsored 401(k) or traditional IRA. If you don't have enough money saved up from working, consider opening one of these accounts through an online broker like Charles Schwab or Vanguard — and then use it to buy Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies! You can also set up a self-directed IRA so that you control how the funds are invested and who uses them for expenses like traveling outside the country (taxes will apply).

Like any other investment, the IRS will demand a share of your crypto profits, unless you follow certain tax strategies.

The IRS is aware of cryptocurrency, and it's looking for you. Since the IRS has been auditing cryptocurrency investors and issuing 1099-K forms to individuals who have made taxable gains from their crypto investments, it's clear that they know something about cryptocurrencies.

The IRS has also been targeting exchanges and other businesses involved with cryptocurrency trading or holding cryptocurrencies themselves. If you're an exchange and don't report your income correctly, this could result in hefty penalties from the IRS — and even more serious consequences if you're found guilty of evading taxes altogether!

Conclusion

Crypto is a hot topic, with many people wondering how they should use it and report it on taxes. The IRS says that crypto is taxable as property or capital gains, depending on the type of crypto you own and what you do with it after receiving your profits. You can also report crypto-based income for other tax purposes (such as self-employment), but only if you have documentation to prove when the event occurred and how much income was generated from these transactions (which may be difficult).

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