1. Ethereum (ETH)

Ethereum — the name for the cryptocurrency platform — is the second name you’re most likely to recognize in the crypto space. The system allows you to use ether (the currency) to perform a number of functions, but the smart contract aspect of Ethereum helps make it a popular currency. Etherueum has a price of $2,599, and the market cap of $312 billion.

2. Dogecoin (DOGE)

Dogecoin (DOGE), seen by some as the original “memecoin,” caused a stir in 2021 as the price of the coin skyrocketed. The coin, which uses an image of the Shiba Inu as its avatar, is accepted as a form of payment by some major companies, including the Dallas Mavericks, Kronos, and—perhaps most notably—SpaceX, an American aerospace manufacturer owned by Elon Musk. The price of DOGE hit an all-time high of approximately 0.74 cents during the week when Musk was scheduled to appear on Saturday Night Live. As of March 14, 2022, Dogecoin’s market capitalization is $15.0 billion and one DOGE is valued at around 11 cents, making it the 13th-largest cryptocurrency.

3. Polygon (MATIC)

Polygon was formerly called Matic Network. Polygon (MATIC) is an Ethereum token that powers the Polygon Network, a scaling solution for Ethereum. Polygon aims to provide faster and cheaper transactions on Ethereum using Layer 2 sidechains, which are blockchains that run alongside the Ethereum main chain. Users can deposit Ethereum tokens to a Polygon smart contract, interact with them within Polygon, and then later withdraw them back to the Ethereum main chain. The MATIC token is used to pay transaction fees and participate in proof-of-stake consensus.

4. Terra (LUNA)

Using its currency Luna, Terra is a platform that helps backstop a range of stablecoins based on real currencies such as the dollar or euro. Terra helps stabilize the price of stablecoins through various technical means, and it also supports smart contracts. Luna has a price of $99.30, and its market cap is about $36 billion.

5. Bitcoin (BTC)

You probably wondered when the world's largest cryptocurrency was going to show up, but here it is. As the harbinger of the cryptocurrency era, Bitcoin is still the coin people generally reference when they talk about digital currency. Its mysterious creator — allegedly Satoshi Nakamoto — debuted the currency in 2009 and it’s been on a roller-coaster ride since then. However, it wasn’t until 2017 that the cryptocurrency broke into popular consciousness. Bitcoin has a price of $39,198, and its Market cap is a whopping $744 billion.