As the year comes to an end, it’s time to look back and reflect on the top-performing cryptocurrencies of 2023. This year has been a roller coaster ride for the crypto market, with unprecedented highs and lows. However, despite the volatility, cryptocurrencies have managed to attract more attention and investment from both retail and institutional investors.
One of the significant developments in the cryptocurrency payments this year has been the growing interest from institutional investors. Companies and asset managers like MicroStrategy, Blackrock, Square, Ark Invest, and now Fidelity have taken significant interest in cryptocurrencies, indicating a potential rewind towards mainstream adoption, similar to the trend in 2021.
So, we will discuss the top 10 cryptocurrencies that have performed exceptionally well in 2023, taking into account their market capitalization and factors that influence their growth. Let’s dive in!
Top 10 cryptocurrencies
1. Bitcoin (BTC)
- Market Cap: $726 billion
Bitcoin continues to dominate the cryptocurrency market with a massive 51% share of the total market cap. It’s no surprise that BTC is still holding its position as the top-performing cryptocurrency in 2023, given its strong brand recognition and first-mover advantage.
It has seen increased acceptance as a mainstream mode of payment by both retail and institutional investors, driving its growth. But the major factor that influenced the bitcoin price surge was the attention it received from institutional investors concerning ETF filings. Bitcoin ETFs have been a significant topic of discussion in 2023, with several fund providers, like Valkyrie and ProShares, launching their Bitcoin ETFs. These funds have played a monumental role in attracting institutional investment, as they provide a more regulated and mainstream avenue for these investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin. Consequently, this attention and subsequent investment from institutions have significantly fueled Bitcoin’s price growth this year.
2. Ethereum (ETH)
- Market Cap: $242 billion
Ethereum has established itself as the primary platform for decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts, solidifying its position as the second-largest cryptocurrency in terms of market cap. It continues to attract developers and businesses looking to leverage its blockchain technology for various use cases, such as supply chain and decentralized finance (DeFi). Ether is the native token of the Ethereum ecosystem, and it also got attention from institutional investors with regards to the ETF filings.
3. Tether (USDT)
- Market Cap: $88 billion
In a volatile market like that of 2023, investors sought safe havens to store their cryptocurrencies, and Tether (USDT) emerged as a popular choice. Tether, a stable coin, is pegged to the US dollar and offers stability in contrast to the wild price swings of other cryptocurrencies. This stability made it attractive to investors looking to avoid the market’s volatility while still remaining in the crypto space. In periods of high volatility or bearish market trends, investors often converted their positions into Tether to preserve their capital and wait for more favorable market conditions. This increased use of Tether as a ‘safe harbor’ significantly contributed to its market cap growth in 2023.
4. Binance coin (BNB)
- Market Cap: $38 billion
Binance coin has seen tremendous growth in 2023, thanks to the success of the Binance Exchange. As one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges globally, it has managed to attract a significant user base, further driving the demand for its native token, BNB. Apart from its use as a utility token on the exchange, BNB also saw an increase in demand due to the launch of various DeFi projects on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC). Additionally, BNB was also added as a payment option for certain products and services on major e-commerce platforms like Shopify.
5. XRP
- Market Cap: $26 billion
Ripple’s XRP, despite facing a lawsuit with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has managed to secure a place among the top-performing cryptocurrencies in 2023. The lawsuit, which began in late 2020, questioned the status of XRP as a security. However, the case turned favorably for XRP this year when it won the lawsuit, which significantly changed the token’s trajectory.
6. Solana (SOL)
- Market Cap: $25 billion
Solana has experienced remarkable growth in 2023 due to its high-speed, low-fee blockchain. It has become a popular platform for decentralized applications (DApps) and smart contracts. Solana’s innovative architecture, capable of handling thousands of transactions per second, has attracted developers and projects, particularly in the DeFi and NFT sectors.
The increase in demand for its native token, SOL, has been significant. Also, Solana has indirectly benefited from the XRP lawsuit ruling, which has brought a level of regulatory clarity to the cryptocurrency market.
7. USDC
- Market Cap: $24 billion
USD Coin (USDC) is another stablecoin that has seen a surge in demand in 2023, especially during periods of market volatility. It offers an alternative to Tether with its promise of transparency and direct backing by the US dollar. The increased use of USDC in the DeFi space as well as its growing acceptance within traditional finance have contributed to its growth.
8. Cardano (ADA)
- Market Cap: $25 billion
It is surprising to see ADA still on this list, but it is a testament to the team’s hard work during the bear market. Cardano has seen increased growth in 2023 as it continues to enhance its blockchain with new features and upgrades, such as smart contracts and decentralized governance. It also gained attention from institutional investors due to its emphasis on the environment.
9. Dogecoin (DOGE)
- Market Cap: $11 billion
Dogecoin, the ‘meme’ cryptocurrency, has continued to surprise us with its resilience. It started as a joke but has since gained a massive following and attention from various popular figures in the financial space. Dogecoin’s growth can be attributed to its strong community and its use in charitable initiatives. Despite being highly volatile, it remains one of the top-performing cryptocurrencies in 2023.
10. TRON (TRX)
- Market Cap: $9 billion
TRON, a blockchain platform for creating decentralized applications (DApps), has seen substantial growth in 2023. Its low transaction fees and fast processing times have attracted developers to build on its network. Additionally, TRON’s partnership with major companies like Samsung and BitTorrent has gained it mainstream exposure and potential for further growth.
