There is not only bitcoin in the world of cryptocurrency, dozens are created each week at a rate that thrills many experts and players in finance.
Bitcoin remains the most popular virtual currency, the reference cryptocurrency is not even in the top 10 best performances of the past year.
The gold medal went to the ripple, crypto currency which posted 36.000% growth in 2017 and which crossed at the beginning of the year the cap of 100 billion of capitalization.
Forty virtual currencies have crossed the threshold of one billion capitalization, just seven months ago. Some, like Cardano, even weigh 15 billion three months after their creation.
To distinguish themselves from each other, cryptocurrencies rely on computer security, others highlight anonymity, issue of shares and bonds, or the speed of confirmation of transactions.