Cryptocurrency is a form of electronic cash that is decentralized and not controlled by a single entity, such as a government. Instead, it's built on the blockchain, with bitcoin being the most widely used version of that technology. More and more possibilities are becoming accessible as digital money continues to gain popularity on Wall Street. Almost 8,900 cryptocurrencies are presently available for purchase.
Despite the fact that cryptocurrency can be used to buy goods and services, most people view it as an investment. Although cryptocurrency investing might be dangerous, it's crucial to know what you're getting into before you get in.
A newcomer to the crypto world may feel daunted by the sheer number of cryptocurrencies available, which range from the well-known Bitcoin and Ethereum to lesser-known Dogecoin and Tether. For your convenience, we've listed the top ten cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, which are the best cryptocurrencies to invest in 2022.
1.Bitcoin (BTC)
The longest-lived cryptocurrency is Bitcoin. Because it has a bigger price and market value than any other cryptocurrency, it is clear why it is the market leader.
Since so many businesses currently accept bitcoin as payment, it's a good idea to invest in this digital money. Bitcoin transactions can be made using Visa, for example. Tesla revealed in February 2021 that it had invested $1.5 billion in it, and it had taken Bitcoin as payment for its automobiles for a period, and it may do so again if mining it is made environmentally benign. In addition, some of the world's largest banks are beginning to accept bitcoin transactions.
Bitcoin's value changes frequently. You may see the price fluctuate by thousands of dollars in any one month. Unpredictable price swings like these may scare you away from bitcoin. Otherwise, these changes shouldn't worry you too much if you bear in mind that cryptocurrencies could be a sensible long-term investment.
The price of bitcoin is another reason to rethink investing in it. For most people, buying a single bitcoin would be out of their reach financially. Investors who don't want to buy a fraction of a bitcoin will find this to be a drawback.
2.Ethereum (ETH)
Because it is more than a cryptocurrency, Ethereum differs from bitcoin. It's also a network that enables developers to create their own coin by exploiting the network's infrastructure. Although ethereum's value lags significantly behind bitcoin's, it is still far ahead of its competition.
As the second-largest cryptocurrency, it has well surpassed its place in the market, despite the fact that it was launched several years after some of the other cryptocurrencies in existence.
Transactions on the Ethereum network can only occur in one "lane," despite the usage of blockchain technology. When the network is overcrowded, transactions may take longer to process as a result. According to CoinMarketCap, transaction fees will reach an all-time high of $71.72 in May 2021 as a result of the high volume of transactions.
Security flaws allowed hackers to steal almost $50 million worth of ether in 2016.
3.Binance Coin (BNB)
Binance coin surged from $38 on January 1, 2021, to an all-time high of $683 in May of that year after years of relatively flat pricing, at least by cryptocurrency standards. It has fallen to $382.91 as of March 8th.
Binance coin has shown to be one of the more reliable investment options due to its performance. According to CoinMarketCap, Binance is the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, but the coin's performance in Binance sub-projects makes it a very volatile investment.
The fact that binance coin was founded by a company rather than a bunch of software developers sets it apart from its competitors. However, despite binance coin's commitment to a solid blockchain, some investors remain skeptical of this cryptocurrency and its possible security risks.
4.Cardano (ADA)
Though its limited size, the Cardano network attracts investors for a variety of reasons. Cardano transactions use less energy than those on larger networks like Bitcoin. Transactions will be quicker and cheaper as a result. Cardano released a "hard fork" upgrade last year that enabled the deployment of smart contracts.
Besides adaptability and security, Cardano also claims to be more secure. To keep ahead of hackers, it constantly updates its development.
Even with an improved network, Cardano may not be able to compete with the larger cryptocurrencies. There will be fewer developers when there are fewer users. Investors who wish to see a high adoption rate will find this unappealing. Doubts remain regarding the platform's ability to live up to its lofty goals.
5.Solana (SOL)
Since its inception in 2021, Solana has taken the crypto world by storm, rising from 0.01 percent market share in September 2021 to a top 10 cryptocurrency in market capitalization by September 2021. Currently valued at $26.4 billion, Solana is the ninth-largest cryptocurrency by market cap as of March 2022. When it comes to speed and scalability, Decrypt says it has an advantage over other networks since it can be used to develop decentralized apps that run on a blockchain.
Prices in Solana have risen by about 4,000 percent in the last year, but they might fall just as suddenly. According to Bloomberg, Solana experienced a nearly 24-hour outage owing to "resource fatigue," which CNBC also reported.
6.Avalanche (AVAX)
Ethereum competitor Avalanche is a new "layer one" blockchain developed by Cornell University computer scientists and Ava Labs, which Binance describes as improving the base protocol to make the system more scalable. Professor Emin Gun Sirer, according to CoinMarketCap, is a veteran of cryptographic research. In contrast to Ethereum, where each transaction must be validated by every node, Avalanche's three separate blockchains each have the ability to do so autonomously. With the ability to handle up to 6,500 transactions per second, Avalanche is now more scalable. As a result, according to U.S. News, it's becoming increasingly popular among Ethereum projects.
In 2020, AVAX began trading in a 24-hour ICO. Over the past year, the price has ranged between $9.34 and $146.22. The current price of the coin is $74.20.
In 2018, Sirer published a white paper introducing the cryptocurrency. 2020 was the date of its debut. For potential investors, avalanche is more risky because of its brief history and lack of previous performance data to draw upon.
7.Chainlink (LINK)
Using a decentralized oracle network, Chainlink aims to make it possible for smart contracts to overtake traditional payment systems as the primary means of digital currency exchange, according to CoinMarketCap.
Chainlink has a strategic agreement with Google in which Google employs Chainlink's protocol to connect users to its cloud services, according to Benzinga.com. According to Securities.io, the project's advisers include former Alphabet Chairman Eric Schmidt, DocuSign co-founder Tom Gonser, and former LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner.
Chainlink's price has fluctuated like other cryptocurrencies, despite the fact that it has a track record of usefulness and the backing of well-known companies. A $52 decline to just over $13 in March 2021 was a significant decrease in the product's price.
8.Polygon (MATIC)
Developed by a team that made important contributions to Ethereum, Polygon is an Ethereum-based cryptocurrency. According to CoinMarketCap, Polygon is intended for Ethereum scaling and infrastructure development. Expanding Ethereum to include many chains as a "layer two" solution speeds up transactions and verifies the authenticity of blocks more quickly.
It is supported by Binance and Coinbase, two of the largest crypto exchanges in the world. For payment services, transaction fees, and as a settlement currency, MATIC tokens are used.
CoinDesk stated that Polygon acknowledged late last year that it has corrected a vulnerability that put the company's currencies worth $20 million at danger. Within two days, Polygon had a remedy in place after a hacker revealed the flaw. Black-hat hackers, on the other hand, had already taken over 800,000 tokens, leaving Polygon liable for almost $1.4 million in damages.
9.Shiba Inu (SHIB)
Shiba Inu is another cryptocurrency to invest in in 2022. SHIB surged by 1000 percent in less than a month in October 2021 because to social media platforms like Reddit. Because of its reliance on marketing hype, this'meme coin' has a similar vibe to Dogecoin. Due to new practical use cases (like ShibaSwap), there's potential for price growth in SHIB through 2022.
10.Algorand (ALGO)
Algorand is another interesting altcoin to keep an eye on. Silvio Micali created the Algorand blockchain network, which he calls "Pure Proof of Stake" (PPoS). The development team behind Algorand, a promising altcoin for the year 2022, is well-versed in smart contract technology.
Want to jump to the cryptocurrency markets? Without enough money? Is there such a thing as a crypto-debit or credit card?
Unlike standard credit cards, crypto credit cards allow you to use your bitcoin holdings to make purchases. Crypto credit cards, on the other hand, are linked to your digital cryptocurrency wallet rather than your bank account. Physical, virtual, and pre-paid versions of cryptocurrency cards are all available.
In order to avoid confusion, it is important to point out that you do not pay with bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency when purchasing goods and services. A fiat cash exchange takes place before delivering your cryptos to the merchant. MasterCard and Visa, two of the world's largest financial networks, support crypto credit cards. You can use MasterCard or Visa ATMs to withdraw your converted fiat currency.
What are the advantages of using a crypto credit card?
To sum it up, crypto credit cards are fantastic for the following reasons:
The ability to use a single card to transact in many currencies.
If you want to access both digital assets and fiat currencies, crypto credit cards provide the best of both worlds. There's no need to carry around different cards when you can just use your base fiat currency to make purchases.
Earn Rewards
Some cryptocurrency credit cards, like traditional reward or cashback cards, allow you to earn rewards for every transaction you make. Every purchase you make online or in a brick-and-mortar store can earn you up to 5% cashback.
You may even get a rebate on your monthly card maintenance charge if you fulfill the monthly minimum card load requirements.
Fees that are minimal to non-existent
There are no monthly, yearly, or foreign exchange costs associated with using a crypto credit card. If you spend or maintain the minimum needed amount during a set period, some crypto-backed cards will even waive these costs.
Flexibility
Some crypto credit cards allow you to use a variety of payment methods, including both traditional and digital currencies. To stock up on foreign currency, you won't need to visit a currency exchange.
Is It Worth It to Use a Crypto Credit Card?
Using a bitcoin credit card would be beneficial to many people who are interested in investing in cryptocurrencies. With these cards, you'll have more control and liquidity over your cryptocurrency holdings at all times. Getting paid in cryptocurrencies can be a terrific method to build up a larger cryptocurrency portfolio over time. Over time, you'll accumulate a steady stream of cryptocurrency incentives, allowing you to gradually ease your way into the cryptocurrency markets.
