Datastream
Comparing Bitcoin’s Market Cap to Other Cryptocurrencies
The Briefing
- In the cryptocurrency world, Bitcoin has consistently held the top spot when it comes to overall market capitalization
- As of January 13, 2021, Bitcoin currently captures around 68% of the cryptocurrency market. Ethereum comes in second, making up almost 13% of total market cap
Bitcoin—it’s volatile and valuable, and it’s also in vogue for traders around the world.
Even after a recent 15% drop, Bitcoin still makes up about 68% of the cryptocurrency market. This means that currently, Bitcoin’s market cap is greater than all other altcoins combined:
Cryptocurrency | Market Cap (Billions) | % of Total Market |
---|---|---|
Bitcoin | $647.2 | 68.1% |
Ethereum | $122.6 | 12.9% |
Tether | $24.2 | 2.6% |
Litecoin | $9.2 | 1.0% |
XRP | $13.6 | 1.4% |
Polkadot | $9.4 | 1.0% |
Cardano | $9.2 | 1.0% |
Bitcoin Cash | $8.9 | 0.9% |
Binance Coin | $5.6 | 0.6% |
Chainlink | $6.4 | 0.7% |
Others | $93.6 | 9.9% |
Total | $950.0 | 100% |
*Note: Figures have been rounded.
This hasn’t always been the case for Bitcoin—in fact, its market share was a mere 32.8%, back in January 2018. However, within a year it had captured the majority of the market again. And ever since, it’s held a relatively stable piece of the pie.
Why does Bitcoin Have a Greater Market Value?
How has Bitcoin managed to remain top dog in the cryptocurrency market throughout the years? There are a few likely reasons:
- It’s built a solid reputation
Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency on the scene, giving it a first-mover advantage. This is a fancy way of saying that the early bird gets the worm—or in Bitcoin’s case, media attention and investor trust. - There’s a finite supply
The world’s supply of Bitcoin maxes out at 21 million, and about 18.5 million are currently in circulation. This scarcity ideally increases its value over time. Other cryptocurrencies, like Ethereum’s coin Ether, are currently limitless. - It’s more accessible than other cryptocurrencies
Bitcoin has a much larger ecosystem than other cryptocurrencies. Because it has more applications and merchants that accept it, it’s more convenient than other digital coins.
Should We Even Compare Cryptocurrencies?
Not all crypto assets have the same intended use. For instance, the Ethereum network was created primarily to facilitate decentralized applications and smart contracts.
So, while it’s interesting to compare Bitcoin’s market cap to other coins, it’s important to remember that they’re not necessarily direct competitors—and success for one doesn’t necessarily mean the death of others.
Where does this data come from?
Source: Coin Market Cap (link)
Datastream
Charted: The Ukraine War Civilian Death Toll
Using data from the UN, this chart shows civilian death toll figures resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Briefing
- In total, since the war began in February there have been over 7,031 Ukrainian civilian deaths
- Most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by the use of explosive weapons, such as missiles and heavy artillery
Charted: The Ukraine War Civilian Death Toll
Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine has wrought suffering and death on a mass scale, with many Russian attacks targeted at civilians.
We’ve created this visual using data from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to better understand how many civilians have died in Ukraine as a result of the war, as well as how many were injured and how many were children.
The Numbers
As of early December, it is reported that 7,031 people in Ukraine have died because of the war — 433 of them children. Another 11,327 have been injured, 827 of which are children. In total, this is over 18,000 people killed or injured.
The figures are difficult to verify due to differing reports coming out of both Russia and Ukraine. The UN OHCHR anticipates that the numbers could be even higher.
The State of the Conflict
The war began on February 24th, 2022 and less than a year in, millions of people have been displaced by the conflict, and thousands of civilians have been injured or killed.
According to the UN, most of the civilian deaths have been caused by wide-ranging explosives such as heavy artillery shelling, missiles, and air strikes, and have been concentrated in Donetsk and Luhansk and in other territory still held by Ukraine.
Additionally, new estimates from Kyiv report approximately 13,000 Ukrainian military or soldier deaths, which has yet to be confirmed by the army.
Where does this data come from?
Source: The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights monthly reports on civilian deaths in Ukraine.
Note: Data on deaths and injuries can vary wildly depending on the source.
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