Forbes Listed Siacoin as One of the Top 25 Cryptocurrencies

This story appears in the July 27, 2017 issue of Forbes. Subscribe

Coin/Token Market cap (current price times circulating supply, in millions)* Year-to-Date Returns Description Bitcoin $40,520 260% Since only 21 million will ever be produced, the original cryptocurrency is the best store of value but still very volatile. Ethereum $26,720 3,825% A blockchain for “smart contracts” (programs that will execute contractual terms automatically), Ethereum launched the token craze. Ripple  $9,980 4,210% Its XRP coin has soared. Wants to disrupt the slow, opaque and pricey world of international wire transfers. It already has 75 banking and payments partners. Litecoin $2,080 980% Litecoin has long marketed itself as digital silver to Bitcoin’s gold, in part because it’s less energy-intensive, with faster block times. Ethereum Classic  $1,720 1,395% This coin is from the original Ethereum blockchain, which was upgraded after a $50 million hack. NEM $1,430 4,320% A cryptocurrency that is popular in Japan, where banks are testing an enterprise version. Many Western crypto enthusiasts have little idea what it is. Dash  $1,330 1,690% Originally called darkcoin, with an emphasis on privacy, Dash touts itself as digital cash, but its average transaction size is more than $10,000. IOTA $1,120 -35% Bitcoin and Ethereum may be too expensive and slow for Internet of Things micropayments. IOTA could someday be in demand by Fitbits everywhere. Monero $640 340% Privacy coin that aims to be a base layer for other privacy apps, such as messaging. Accepted on Dark Web marketplace AlphaBay. BitShares  $630 6,190% One-stop supermarket for crypto financial services, founded by controversial crypto serial entrepreneur Dan Larimer. Stratis  $620 8,705% A blockchain-as-a-service geared toward Microsoft platform users and targeted at enterprise customers. Zcash  $470 2,825% This privacy coin has beaucoup buzz: AngelList’s Naval Ravikant is on the board of its foundation, and JPMorgan Chase is using its tech in its private blockchain. AntShares $440 6,135% Early blockchain ICO that wants to be China’s version of Ethereum. Its fully diluted coin value is nearly $1 billion. Golem $400 6,030% Global marketplace for idle computer power could be a boon for CGI artists, AI developers, DNA scientists and many more. Steem $390 990% Crypto-Reddit of sorts. Rewards users who post and up-vote popular content. Has a dubious founding team and poor token distribution. Siacoin  $390  7,295% Taking on Amazon S3 with decentralized file storage that’s a tenth of the cost, faster and more reliable. Gnosis  $360 415% Prediction marketplace that could have applications in areas as wide-ranging as art auctions and insurance. Waves  $350 1,410% Insiders call it a cross between Ripple and a decentralized exchange. Fuels bubble trading by making it easy for members to create their own tradable tokens. BitConnect  $350 42,910% Cryptocurrency portal that aggressively solicits investments and promises suckers eye-popping returns as high as 120%. Iconomi  $330 1,245% Investment platform for cryptocurrencies. Its Digital Asset Arrays are basically crypto-ETFs. Two have already been launched, one for ICOs. Bytecoin $330 3,695% Marketed as a private, untraceable cryptocurrency designed for enterprise clients by an anonymous team. Crypto insiders say steer clear. Augur  $310 740% Prediction market, founded by Joey Krug, who is now also head of Pantera Capital’s new ICO fund. Striving to become a decentralized financial system. Dogecoin  $280 1,180% Shiba Inu-meme-inspired community born out of a joke. It epitomizes the financial resources that can be marshaled by networks. Lisk  $270 1,870% Decentralized blockchain version of Apple and Google app ecosystems. In 2016, it was integrated into Microsoft Azure’s blockchain-as-a-service platform. Stellar Lumens $270 1,595% Sister to Ripple’s XRP, which is targeting its services–remittance, mobile money–at the unbanked. Founder had been associated with troubled Mt. Gox.