In the constantly changing market of crypto assets, it is easy to lose perspective. Boerse Stuttgart Digital has built up the largest crypto & digital business among all European exchange groups – made in Germany. There are now 27 cryptocurrencies tradable. We'll show you what is behind these coins and what sets them apart. 

Bitcoin (BTC) 

Bitcoin, introduced in 2009, is the first cryptocurrency based on blockchain technology. Created under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin is a decentralized system with no central authority or controlling entity. The development is driven by an open-source community. With a set maximum supply of 21 million BTC, the cryptocurrency is designed for scarcity. Bitcoins are created through a process called mining, where miners use powerful computers to solve mathematical puzzles. The proof-of-work consensus mechanism is used to validate all transactions. Transaction costs vary depending on network usage and are calculated in Satoshis per byte. For cheaper transactions, the Lightning Network offers an alternative. Unlike platforms like Ethereum, Bitcoin doesn't support complex smart contracts, but it does allow for simple scripting functions. 

Mainly, Bitcoin is considered by many investors as digital gold and a store of value, in addition to its function for peer-to-peer payments. Since January 11th, 2024, Bitcoin Spot ETFs can be traded on US exchanges. On the first day, various ETFs from Grayscale, BlackRock, and Fidelity were already traded on the market worth a total of $4.6 billion. 

Ethereum (ETH) 

Ethereum, developed by Vitalik Buterin and on the market since 2015, represents an authoritative platform for decentralized applications (DApps), smart contracts, the expansion of the DeFi sector (decentralized finance), and non-fungible tokens (NFT). Smart contracts are programs that run automatically when a certain sum of Ether has been transferred or a programmed event occurs. Ethereum is backed by the Ethereum Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on funding research and development. 

In terms of market capitalization, Ether is consistently the second most valuable cryptocurrency – behind Bitcoin. 

Since 2022, Ethereum has been using proof-of-stake, with the aim of optimizing scalability and energy consumption. Ethereum was the first blockchain to implement fully functional smart contracts. The native cryptocurrency "Ether" is needed to carry out operations on the platform. 

Due to the approval of Bitcoin Spot ETFs by the SEC, experts expect a similar development for Ethereum in the current year. 

Ripple (XRP) 

Ripple, widely referred to as XRP and developed in 2012 by Chris Larsen and Jed McCaleb, is a cryptocurrency that stands out from others because of its unique consensus protocol. Unlike traditional mining processes, this protocol is designed to be more energy efficient. Ripple is managed by Ripple Labs Inc., a company that also operates the Ripple payment protocol. 

With a maximum supply of 100 billion XRP, a large portion of which is held by Ripple Labs, Ripple offers very low transaction costs, often only a fraction of a cent. While Ripple does not have native support for smart contracts, its focus is mainly on processing fast and low-cost international payments for banks and financial institutions. It often acts as a bridge between different currencies. 

A key feature of Ripple is its establishment in the financial world through partnerships with major banks and financial institutions worldwide. Ripple's commitment to sustainability, with the goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2030, is in line with the efforts of the entire industry to reduce its environmental footprint. 

Litecoin (LTC) 

Launched in 2011 by Charlie Lee, Litecoin is often referred to as the "silver" to the "gold" of Bitcoin. The goal of Litecoin is to offer a more efficient and cost-effective alternative to Bitcoin, especially in terms of everyday transactions. The Litecoin Foundation, a non-profit organization, takes care of the further development and promotion of the currency. 

With a maximum supply of 84 million LTC, Litecoin is characterized by lower transaction costs compared to Bitcoin. Although it doesn't natively support smart contracts, the integration of technologies like the Lightning Network allows for additional functionality. 

Litecoin was developed as a "lighter" version of Bitcoin, which is reflected in the name and use of a different proof-of-work hashing algorithm (Scrypt instead of SHA-256). This algorithm is faster and requires less computing power. Litecoin recently saw a significant increase in newly created addresses, generating about 1.2 million LTC addresses in a single day. 

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) 

Bitcoin Cash, created from a "hard fork" of Bitcoin in 2017, represents an alternative version of the original cryptocurrency. This development was triggered by disagreements within the Bitcoin community over the future direction of the network. 

With a maximum supply of 21 million BCH, identical to that of Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash is characterized by generally lower transaction costs. This is made possible by a larger block size, which allows for more transactions per block, thereby reducing processing times. While Bitcoin Cash does not support complex smart contracts, the cryptocurrency is mainly focused on improving transaction capacity. 

The main goal of Bitcoin Cash is to be an efficient and user-friendly means of payment for everyday transactions – faster and cheaper than Bitcoin. According to one report , nearly 1.3 million Bitcoin transactions were processed in 2023 alone, bringing the total number of Bitcoin transactions to over 4 million. 

Chainlink (LINK) 

Chainlink, founded by Sergey Nazarov and Steve Ellis and released in 2017, represents a significant development in the field of blockchain technology. As a decentralized oracle network, Chainlink enables the integration of real-world data into smart contracts through a network of oracles. This feature is essential for connecting blockchain-based smart contracts to external (trusted) data sources, APIs, and payment systems. 

The company behind Chainlink, Chainlink Labs (formerly known as SmartContract), has set a maximum supply of one billion LINK tokens. Transaction costs on the Chainlink network vary depending on the type of request and the data needed, with users paying for the Oracle services in LINK. 

Known as a pioneer in the field of decentralized oracle networks, Chainlink plays an important role in connecting on-chain and off-chain data. The network also uses a reputation system to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the information provided by the oracles. 

In July 2023, Chainlink launched its Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP), which aims to develop cross-chain applications and services and enable simplified token transfer. 

Uniswap (Uni) 

Uniswap, developed in 2018 by Hayden Adams, is a decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol on the Ethereum blockchain. Backed by Uniswap Labs, it is characterized by the absence of a central organization that controls the protocol. Uniswap leverages Ethereum smart contracts and allows cryptocurrency trading through automated liquidity pools, eliminating the need for traditional order books. 

The protocol has a maximum supply of one billion UNI tokens. Transaction costs are variable and are determined by Ethereum network utilization, as well as the complexity of each transaction. Users pay gas fees in Ether (ETH). 

Uniswap is considered one of the most well-known and widely used DeFi protocols. It uses an innovative model of liquidity provision, where any user can become a liquidity provider. Uniswap has expanded its user support by integrating various new features. It has entered the Bitcoin ecosystem by launching on Rootstock, a sidechain connected to the Bitcoin blockchain. 

Solana (SOL) 

Solana, founded in 2020 by Anatoly Yakovenko, has quickly established itself as a leading blockchain platform for decentralized applications (DApps) and crypto projects. Powered by Solana Labs, the network is designed to deliver high performance with fast processing speed and low transaction costs. 

Solana does not have a set maximum supply. Instead, there is an annual inflation target that is gradually reduced until it stabilizes at 1.5 percent inflation. This sets Solana apart from many other cryptocurrencies that have a fixed maximum supply. 

Transaction costs on Solana are low compared to other blockchains thanks to its high throughput capacity. In addition, Solana supports smart contracts and provides a powerful platform for DApps. 

A key factor that sets Solana apart from other blockchain platforms is the use of a unique consensus mechanism called Proof of History (PoH), combined with Proof of Stake (PoS). Solana outperformed Ethereum in weekly decentralized exchange volume (DEX) and non-fungible token (NFT) sales. Solana's DEX volume surged to over $10 billion, surpassing Ethereum's $8.8 billion in the same week in December 2023. 

Cardano (ADA) 

Cardano, co-founded in 2017 by Charles Hoskinson, who was already involved in the creation of Ethereum, represents a significant technical development in the field of blockchain technologies. The Cardano Foundation, together with IOHK (Input Output Hong Kong) and EMURGO, oversees the development and contributes to the technical as well as business development. 

Cardano has a maximum supply of 45 billion ADA tokens. Transaction costs are variable and depend on network utilization. In doing so, Cardano strives to offer more efficient and cost-effective transactions compared to other major blockchains. 

However, as a platform that supports smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps), Cardano's feature set, like most other projects, is still under development. Cardano positions itself as a "scientifically verified" blockchain. The unique proof-of-stake consensus mechanism called Ouroboros focuses on security, sustainability, and scalability. 

The coin has seen remarkable activity from "whales", i.e. large investors. Market analysts report that large investors bought over 14 million ADA in two weeks in early 2024, which is worth around $8.4 million. 

Polkadot (DOT) 

Polkadot, launched in 2020 and developed by Dr. Gavin Wood, one of the co-founders of Ethereum, is an innovative blockchain platform backed by the Web3 Foundation. 

Polkadot's original total supply was ten million DOT tokens, but after a redenomination in August 2020, it was increased to 1.4 billion DOT tokens. Transaction costs on the Polkadot platform are variable and depend on network utilization and the complexity of transactions. 

Polkadot enables smart contracts and the creation of decentralized applications (DApps) on various parachains, which is the main feature of its multichain architecture. Polkadot's goal is to provide an interoperable and scalable platform that enables the connection and operation of multiple blockchains on a unified network. 

A key element of Polkadot is its unique consensus mechanism known as Nominated Proof of Stake (NPoS). RockX, a digital asset development company, has launched a $20 million investment program to support projects built on Polkadot. 

Dogecoin (DOGE) 

Dogecoin, launched in 2013, was created by Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer as a "fun currency" based on the popular Doge internet meme. It differs from other cryptocurrencies in the absence of an official organization or foundation to guide it; instead, Dogecoin is promoted and developed by an active community. 

A key feature of Dogecoin is that there is no set maximum supply. This means that new coins are continuously produced as a reward for miners. Transaction costs on Dogecoin tend to be very low, making it a popular choice for microtransactions and tipping systems on the internet, based on proof-of-work – similar to Litecoin. 

Although Dogecoin was originally intended as a humorous alternative to traditional cryptocurrencies, it is now used for tips, donations, and as payment for products and services. The cryptocurrency gained huge popularity on social media and was endorsed by personalities such as Elon Musk. 

Shiba Inu (Shiba) 

Shiba Inu, launched in 2020, was created anonymously under the pseudonym "Ryoshi" and represents an exciting development in the world of cryptocurrencies. Shiba Inu is not run by a centralized organization, but rather driven by a decentralized community. 

The cryptocurrency has a total supply of 589 quadrillion SHIB tokens, with a significant portion either burned or locked in decentralized liquidity pools. Since SHIB is based on the Ethereum blockchain, transaction costs vary depending on network load and are paid in Ether (ETH). 

Shiba Inu supports smart contracts through its use of the Ethereum blockchain and develops its own decentralized finance products. Originally marketed as the "Dogecoin killer," Shiba Inu is best known for its role as a speculative investment and strong community culture. 

Algorand (ALGO) 

Algorand, founded in 2017 by Silvio Micali, an MIT professor and Turing Prize winner, is a blockchain platform funded by the Algorand Foundation. The platform has a maximum supply of ten billion ALGO tokens. 

One of the main features of Algorand is its very low transaction costs, which makes it an attractive option for many for fast and cost-efficient transactions. Algorand also supports smart contracts and provides a platform for decentralized applications (DApps). 

Algorand is focused on creating a scalable, secure, and decentralized blockchain that lends itself to a wide range of applications, including financial services, official currencies, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). 

A distinctive feature of Algorand is its special consensus mechanism called Pure Proof of Stake (PPoS), which is based on the random and secret selection of users for block validation. This approach is praised for its environmental friendliness, as it has a much lower energy consumption than traditional proof-of-work systems. Algorand has received significant support from institutional investors. For example, Arrington XRP Capital announced the launch of a $100 million fund to invest in Algorand-based initiatives. 

The Sandbox (SAND) 

The Sandbox, a virtual world and gaming platform in the metaverse, was originally developed by Pixowl and is backed by Animoca Brands. Although The Sandbox existed as a gaming platform before, the SAND token was launched in 2020. 

The maximum supply of SAND is three billion tokens. As part of the Ethereum blockchain, transaction costs for SAND vary depending on network load and are paid in Ether (ETH). The Sandbox uses smart contracts on Ethereum for various game mechanics and transactions. 

The main application area of The Sandbox is to create a virtual world where players can create, own and monetize their own games – with a strong focus on the use of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) to represent land and other in-game items. The Sandbox has successfully raised $93 million in a Series B funding round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2 – the fund's first investment in cryptocurrencies. 

Decentraland (MANA) 

Decentraland, founded by Ariel Meilich and Esteban Ordano, launched its ICO in 2017 and was officially released to the public in February 2020. It is overseen by the non-profit Decentraland Foundation (2015), which supports the development and growth of the project. 

Decentraland's maximum supply is 2.19 billion MANA tokens. As part of the Ethereum blockchain, transaction costs for MANA vary depending on network usage and Ethereum gas fees. Decentraland uses smart contracts to manage land ownership and other interactions within the metaverse. 

As a virtual metaverse, Decentraland allows users to buy, develop, experience, and monetize land. It focuses on digital real estate, gaming, and interactive experiences. Land parcels in Decentraland are traded as Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), there is a dedicated virtual economy where users can use MANA for purchases. Decentraland hosted the first-ever virtual music festival "To the Moon" and opened TrustSwap's virtual headquarters in its metaverse. 

AAVE (AAVE) 

Originally launched in 2017 under the name ETHLend and rebranded as Aave in 2018, Aave is a significant development in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space. Founded by Stani Kulechov, the protocol is managed by Aave Limited. 

The protocol has a set maximum supply of 16 million AAVE tokens, of which about 14.7 million are currently in circulation. As part of the Ethereum blockchain, the transaction cost for AAVE depends on network utilization and is paid in Ether (ETH). 

Aave is best known as a decentralized lending platform. Users can lend and borrow cryptocurrencies on the platform, which can contribute to the efficient use of digital assets. Aave has pioneered decentralized liquidity mining, where users can earn interest on their deposits and borrow against cryptocurrencies as collateral. 

One of Aave's innovative features is the "Flash Loans". These are short-term, unsecured loans that must be repaid within a single blockchain transaction. 

Polygon (MATIC) 

Founded in 2017 by Jaynti Kanani, Sandeep Nailwal, and Anurag Arjun, Polygon was originally known as the Matic Network. Polygon is backed by a company of the same name that focuses on developing and promoting the ecosystem. 

Polygon's maximum supply is ten billion MATIC tokens. A key feature of Polygon is that it offers significantly lower transaction costs compared to Ethereum, which is one of its main attractions. Polygon supports smart contracts and, as a layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum, provides a scalable platform for Ethereum-based DApps. Polygon's goal is to improve scalability and reduce fees without sacrificing security. 

Polygon uses a network of proof-of-stake (PoS) and plasma sidechains to address Ethereum's scalability issues. It is fully compatible with the Ethereum network and allows developers to easily migrate existing Ethereum DApps to Polygon. Polygon has raised $450 million in a funding round led by Sequoia Capital India. More than 40 venture capital funds participated in this round, including well-known names such as SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Galaxy Digital, Tiger Global, and Republic Capital. 

Stellar Lumens (XLM) 

Stellar Lumens, often referred to simply as Stellar, was launched in 2014 by Jed McCaleb, the co-founder of Ripple, and Joyce Kim. The development and promotion of Stellar is handled by the non-profit Stellar Development Foundation. 

Initially, 100 billion XLM tokens were created, however, after a token burn in 2019, the total supply was reduced to about 50 billion XLM. Stellar is known for its very low transaction costs, which can make it an attractive platform for fast and cheap transactions worldwide for many investors. 

Although Stellar does not yet support complex smart contracts such as Ethereum, it focuses on money transfer and aims to provide an open network for money transfers and payments. The main objective is to improve access to low-cost services worldwide, especially for cross-border transfers and payments. 

An interesting aspect of Stellar is its unique consensus mechanism, the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), which is based on an agreed-upon version of the truth between trusted network participants, rather than mining or staking. Stellar has partnered with major IT companies, such as IBM, that use the Stellar network for transactions in the South Pacific region. 

Tezos (XTZ) 

Tezos, developed by Arthur and Kathleen Breitman, was launched in 2017. The development and promotion of Tezos is supported by the Tezos Foundation, a Swiss foundation. 

A distinctive feature of Tezos is that there is no set maximum supply – in total, there are about one billion tokens. New XTZ tokens are created as part of the baking process, a type of staking. Transaction costs on Tezos are variable, but usually lower compared to networks like Ethereum. 

Tezos enables the creation of smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps) and is designed as a "self-adapting" blockchain platform characterized by modularity and upgradeability. It is used for various applications, including financial services and digital collectibles. 

A distinctive feature of Tezos is the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism known as baking, where participants can "bake" XTZ tokens to secure the network and earn rewards. Tezos has established significant partnerships with well-known players across various industries, including Manchester United, McLaren, Misfits Gaming, and Ubisoft. 

Ethereum Classic (ETC) 

Ethereum Classic emerged in 2016 as a result of a "hard fork" of Ethereum that was carried out after the Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) hack. This development led to one of the most controversial splits in the crypto world and divided the Ethereum community. 

The maintenance and development of Ethereum Classic is handled by a decentralized community of developers with no central leadership or organization. Ethereum Classic has a maximum supply of about 210.7 million ETC, based on a monetary policy implemented in December 2017. Transaction costs are variable and tend to be lower than Ethereum. 

Like Ethereum, Ethereum Classic also supports smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps), although it doesn't have the same developer community or level of activity as Ethereum. Ethereum Classic's focus is on immutability and maintaining the original Ethereum blockchain. 

Chiliz (CHZ) 

Chiliz, founded in 2018 by Alexandre Dreyfus, is a project supported by the Malta-based company Chiliz. This organization specializes in blockchain technology in the sports and entertainment sector. 

The maximum supply of Chiliz is 8.8 billion CHZ tokens. Transaction costs are variable and depend on the network load and platform on which the transactions take place. Although Chiliz itself does not use smart contracts in the classic sense, it is mainly designed as a digital currency for the Socios platform. 

The main use case of Chiliz and the Socios.com platform is to allow fans to buy, hold, and trade fan tokens of their favorite sports teams and clubs. These tokens allow fans to influence club decisions through voting and gain access to exclusive rewards. 

AXIE Infinity Shards (AXS) 

Axie Infinity, founded in 2020 by Trung Nguyen and Aleksander Larsen, is an innovative blockchain-based game developed by Vietnamese studio Sky Mavis. The game and its tokens, the AXS tokens, are also managed by Sky Mavis. 

The maximum supply of Axie Infinity is 270 million AXS tokens. Since AXS is based on the Ethereum blockchain, transactions within the Axie Infinity ecosystem may require fees depending on Ethereum network utilization. The game uses smart contracts to carry out in-game transactions and interactions. 

Axie Infinity combines elements of cryptocurrencies and NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens). In this game, players can breed, collect, raise, and fight against other players called Axies. Each Axie is an NFT with unique attributes and strengths. Users have the opportunity to trade these Axies on an open market. 

Enjin Coin (ENJ) 

Enjin Coin, developed by Maxim Blagov and Witek Radomski, who also founded the company Enjin, was launched in 2017. Enjin is a company that operates a gaming community platform and is backed by Enjin Coin. 

The total supply of Enjin Coin is about 1.7 billion ENJ tokens. As part of the Ethereum blockchain, transaction costs for ENJ depend on network utilization and are paid in Ether (ETH). Enjin Coin uses smart contracts for various applications within its ecosystem. 

Enjin Coin focuses on the gaming industry and enables the tokenization of in-game items as Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). It is used to facilitate the buying, selling, and trading of virtual goods. Enjin enables game developers to create blockchain-based games in which players have real ownership of their in-game items. ENJ tokens serve as a kind of collateral for the assets created on the platform, with each item being broken down back into ENJ. 

Basic Attention Token (BAT) 

Basic Attention Token, developed by Brendan Eich, the co-founder of Mozilla and Firefox and the creator of JavaScript, was launched in 2017. Behind BAT is the company Brave Software, which also developed the Brave web browser. 

BAT's maximum supply is 1.5 billion tokens. As an ERC-20 token on the Ethereum blockchain, the transaction costs for BAT vary depending on network load. Although BAT itself does not use smart contracts directly, it is traded as part of smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. 

The main application area of BAT is its use in the Brave browser, with the aim of changing the dynamic between users, advertisers, and publishers on the Internet. Users receive BAT for watching advertisements and can donate these tokens to content providers or use them for various services within the Brave ecosystem. 

Curve DAO Token (CRV) 

Curve DAO Token, founded in 2020 by Michael Egorov, is an example of a decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol operated and governed by a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO). The community determines the direction and development of the protocol. 

CRV's maximum supply is set at 3.3 billion tokens. Since Curve operates on the Ethereum blockchain, transaction costs vary and are paid in ETH. Curve specializes in stablecoin trading and uses Ethereum smart contracts. 

Curve's main focus is to provide a decentralized exchange for stablecoins, allowing users to swap various stablecoins with low fees and minimal slippage. Curve is also known for its liquidity pools and yield farming options. 

The Graph (GRT) 

Founded in 2018 by Yaniv Tal, Jannis Pohlmann, and Brandon Ramirez, The Graph is an innovative indexing protocol for blockchain networks. It is run by a decentralized community of developers, indexers, and delegators, and dispenses with a central administrative unit. 

The total supply of the associated token, GRT, stands at 10.8 billion. Since GRT is an ERC-20 token on the Ethereum blockchain, transaction costs vary depending on network load. The Graph itself is not a smart contract protocol, but rather offers a decentralized protocol layer that indexes blockchain data and makes it queryable.  

The main use case of The Graph is querying networks such as Ethereum and IPFS. It allows the creation and publishing of various APIs, called subgraphs, that can efficiently retrieve data from the blockchain. The Graph is often referred to as the "Google of blockchains" due to its ability to make it easier to find and access information on blockchain networks and plays a central role in many DeFi and Web3 applications. 

Quant (QNT) 

Founded in 2018 by Gilbert Verdian, Quant is overseen by the Quant Network Company, which focuses on developing the Quant ecosystem. With a set maximum supply of 14.8 million QNT tokens, transaction costs vary depending on usage and network load.  

Quant is not on a specific blockchain but aims to provide cross-blockchain compatibility. It is designed as an overledger technology that enables the connection and interoperability of multiple blockchains. Quant's main application area is to be the first blockchain operating system that allows enterprises to build and operate applications across multiple blockchains. It focuses on connecting blockchains and creating an overarching network. 

Quant is known for performing upgrades without hard forks. This means that changes to the protocol can be implemented without splitting the blockchain. 

Reliable crypto trading 

The growing range of cryptocurrencies offered by Boerse Stuttgart Digital shows that developments in the crypto market are picking up speed. As a one-stop-shop for institutional clients such as banks, fund managers and other financial institutions, Boerse Stuttgart Digital offers secure trading and custody of cryptocurrencies. 

The 27 projects presented could offer interesting investment options with future potential. We would be happy to guide you through the world of crypto and digital assets and explain how you can provide your customers with easy and reliable access in a non-binding one-on-one meeting.