Cryptocurrency is a thriving ecosystem, quietly encroaching on conventional finance’s territory.
Over the last five years, Bitcoin users and transactions have averaged a growth rate of nearly 60% per year. Similarly, private and public investors have deepened their commitment to cryptocurrencies including Ethereum, Ripple (XRP), and Stellar—and a number of others across the industry.
Today’s infographic unpacks a cross-section of cryptocurrencies, stakeholders, and core applications across a sector that’s continuing to grow in importance.
The Evolution of Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency has erupted into a $200 billion industry, sparking a wave of global disruption.
At the heart of cryptocurrency is a rich history of innovation. It extends back to the 1980s with advances in the field of cryptography—eventually leading to the technology that forms encryption techniques designed to protect the network.
Since then, a series of key events have continued to shape the sector.
Year
Event
2009Satoshi Nakamoto mines the first Bitcoin on a decentralized network2011Litecoin launches
2012Ripple is founded
2013The price of a single Bitcoin reaches $1,000
2015Ethereum launches, introducing smart contracts into the crypto ecosystem2017Over 1,000 cryptocurrencies listed
2017Bitcoin's price rockets past $10,000, reaching a peak just shy of $20,0002018EOS offers a blockchain-based infrastructure for decentralized apps (DApps)
Now, there are over 5,000 cryptocurrencies in circulation, with many built on innovative applications and use-cases as the ecosystem rapidly evolves.
The Value of Cryptocurrencies
Today, crypto offers cutting-edge advances that are diverse and transformative. In addition, it could also be considered an investment in tomorrow’s financial system—decentralized finance (DeFi).
DeFi is an emerging alternative financial system that is built on a public blockchain, which enables greater accessibility because anyone has the ability to connect to it. Additionally, transactions are publicly visible, enabling greater transparency across the system.
Here is a refresher on some of the practical advantages being applied across cryptocurrencies.
Use CasesNameDescriptionPaymentsBitcoin
Ripple (XRP)
Stellar
Dash
Used for purchasing goods without the need of a trusted third-partyValue Storage
Bitcoin
LitecoinAs the total supply of many cryptocurrencies are limited, this scarcity influences their value
Stablecoins
DAI
USDC
GeminiUSDDigital money that is typically pegged to a currency or commodity, such as gold
PrivacyMonero
ZcashCryptography, the technology behind crypto, can enable the anonymity of its owners
Digital Ownership
Bitcoin
Ripple (XRP)
StellarCan empower those without access to a bank to enter the financial system
Digital Gold
BitcoinBitcoin shares similar attributes to money: a medium of exchange, unit of account, and store of value
Decentralized Apps (DApps)
EOS
Tezos
Ethereum (ETH)Enable individuals to create apps without a central authority, directly connecting the user and creator
The Key Players in the Crypto Landscape
The cryptocurrency ecosystem is growing rapidly. Worldwide, private and public actors recognize its potential across many domains.
Who are the primary participants in the field today?
Private Actors
Institutional Investors
Harvard Endowment Fund, Crypto Hedge Funds
Cryptocurrency Exchanges
Coinbase, Bitstamp
Banks & Finance
J.P. Morgan, Fidelity Investments, Swissquote
Tech
IBM, Microsoft
Power & Utilities
RWE
Public Actors
Governments
Venezuela
Central Banks
China, Sweden, Saudi Arabia
Organizations
Crypto Valley Association, Global Digital Finance
The rising popularity of crypto is bolstering new policies and adoption, as evidenced by the many players trying to break into the space.
The Big Picture:
As crypto continues to gain momentum, its longer-term implications will come into focus. Crucially, its cryptographic foundation sets the stage for future advances in finance.
Privacy
Anonymized transactions protect users data through cryptographic techniques
Access
Providing a new financial model for 1.7B unbanked individuals around the world
Efficiency
Steep reductions in settlement time and efficacy could save consumers $16 billion annually
Security
Providing immutable, traceable records of security-rich transactional networks
Programmable Money
Smart contracts could drastically eliminate manual and administrative work— ultimately bypassing them altogether
Rooted in decentralized and autonomous systems, cryptocurrencies are creating second-order effects in the financial world. Ultimately, cryptocurrencies are helping to transform finance as we know it—unlocking countless investment opportunities across the global economy.