Markets Update: Several Coins Surging as Crypto-Economy Value Tops $600 Billion

This week on December 19 the cryptocurrency market capitalization for all digital assets has crossed a significant $609bn valuation. Digital currencies are becoming more valuable every day, and this week many of them touched new all-time price highs.

Also Read: Thomson Reuters Adds Bitcoin Cash to Eikon Platform

The Top Ten Cryptocurrencies Are All Seeing Percentage Gains Except for BTC

A lot has been happening in the world of digital asset markets this week as more money has flowed into the entire economy this year than ever before. While a lot of spectators and traders have been watching bitcoin core (BTC) markets carefully as it came close to touching $20k, other digital currencies have made some big gains. Bitcoin has dropped around 7 percent in the past 12 hours while the top ten market capitalizations are all in green. The most prominent jump in value today in the top ten is from the New Economy Movement (NEM) network as the protocol’s token is up over 25 percent at $0.93 per NEM.

Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, and NEM Steal the Show

Ethereum (ETH) markets are up over 16 percent reaching an all-time high of over $850 per ETH. Trade volume for the digital currency has been high as ethereum markets have traded over $4.3bn in the last 24 hours. The digital asset holds the second highest market capitalization at $81bn at press time and holds the second highest trade volume today just under bitcoin core.

The third highest market cap is held by bitcoin cash (BCH) as the price has seen some significant gains over the past three days. BCH trade value is up by 15 percent as the currency has reached a high of $2,540 across global exchanges. Currently, the price is hovering around $2,529 with $3.1bn in trade volume swapped in the last 24 hours. The most prominent exchange swapping the most BCH at the moment is Bitfinex as it captures over 73 percent of the volume according to Cryptocompare data. Bitcoin core (BTC) is the most traded currency right now with bitcoin cash, and the USD has taken the second position, pushing the Korean won out of its path. Market optimism for BCH has been high since the largest BTC payment processor worldwide announced BCH merchant and default invoice integration.

The digital asset ripple (XRP) is at the highest price point it has ever been at $0.80 per XRP. Ripple’s volume has been steady all week eclipsing a lot of other altcoin markets. XRP trade volume in the last 24 hours has been over $1.6bn and commands the seventh highest volume today. Bitcoin core (BTC) is the most traded currency with XRP followed by the USD and the Korean won.

Litecoin (LTC) is currently commanding the fifth highest market valuation as each LTC is trading at roughly $347. LTC markets have more volume than XRP markets as litecoin swaps are around $2.4bn worth in global trade volume. The cryptocurrency is up over 9 percent and also holds the fifth most abundant volume out of 1369 other digital assets. The most used currency traded with LTC at the moment is the USD followed by BTC and the won.

More Digital Assets Reach All-Time Highs and Augur Jumps 119%

The rest of the top ten currencies are also doing very well seeing percentage gains across the board. The newcomer to the sixth highest market cap position Cardano (ADA) has joined the top ten just recently, and its markets are up 15 percent at a price of $0.55 per ADA. The digital asset IOTA currently holds the seventh largest market cap with $13.2bn. IOTA markets are up 19 percent as each token is trading at $4.78 at the time of writing.

Dash has been making some significant gains this week as the price per coin is now $1,191, and markets are up over 9 percent. NEM holds the ninth highest market cap and has seen the most gains out of the top ten. Lastly, the decentralized currency that focuses on privacy, monero (XMR), is also at an all-time high this week as each XMR is worth $375. The biggest market mover on December 19 was made by the currency augur (REP) as markets are up well over 119 percent with one REP priced at $100.

What’s in Store for the Cryptocurrency Economy in 2018?

Markets are going crazy, and many people are jumping around from blockchain to blockchain like a game of musical chairs. Bitcoin core (BTC) dominance is lower than it’s been in weeks as the cryptocurrency captures only 49 percent of the $609Bn market share. BTC and many other digital assets have had an extremely profitable year, and many are wondering what’s in store for the cryptocurrency economy in 2018.

Where do you see cryptocurrency markets heading in 2018? Let us know in the comments below.

Images via Shutterstock, Bittrex, and Coinmarketcap.

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