Cryptocurrency's story has changed a lot over time. It started as a new tech idea, then became known for online payments, and now it's a big topic about the future of the internet, called Web 3.0. This change happened because of the digital shift in finance, making it more open and less controlled by big companies. Sometimes, certain ideas push the crypto market in specific ways. Some of these ideas have become very valuable, with market values in the billions.

In 2023, many new ideas have come up in crypto. Important ones include Layer 1 and Layer 2 tech, AI use, GameFi, SocioFi, bots, and connecting real things to the digital world. Also, CBDCs (digital money from governments) are now part of the talk. These new ideas are changing how people see and use crypto, as the market tries to appeal to the masses.

The crypto market had ups and downs, especially during the 2020 pandemic. But it came back strong, reaching a record high. As of October 10, 2023, the combined market value of all cryptocurrencies surpasses $1 trillion, with daily transactions exceeding $43 billion(source: Coingecko).

The range and advancements in the crypto space highlight its complex and dynamic nature, presenting numerous investment options in the digital currency sector.

In the next sections of this blog, we'll explore the top-valued crypto assets, discuss their significance, and their position in the market's total value.

Lastly, we'll detail how to buy these top assets using your Okto wallet, ensuring you can safely hold them yourself in your self custody as you anticipate the next market upswing.

The top categories in crypto by market cap

Navigating the crypto world can be challenging due to its size and fast-paced changes. As of October 5th, 14:00 IST, data from Coingecko.com gives a detailed view of the crypto market, sorting tokens by their use, market cap, and potential. From Bitcoin's major role as a store of value to the growing importance of Layer 1 and Layer 2 solutions, the crypto market offers both opportunities and challenges. This section breaks down the top crypto categories by market cap, explaining their importance, potential, and why they might be good investments. Whether you're an experienced investor or just exploring, this guide helps you understand the dynamic crypto landscape.

Store of Value

• Total Market Cap Percentage: Bitcoin dominance is at 48.1%
• Utility and Future: Tokens that serve as a hedge against economic fluctuations and a long-term store of wealth.
• Interesting Developments: Growing adoption among institutional investors. Growing ordinals. BRC 20 and lightening ecosystem
• Why You Should Buy: Protects against inflation and is widely accepted as a digital gold equivalent.

L1 (Layer 1)

• Market Cap Contribution: Occupies 21.81% of the market cap.
• Utility & Prospects: Foundational blockchains fostering decentralized applications, smart contracts, and the genesis of other tokens.
• Noteworthy Developments: Advancements in scaling solutions and initiatives towards environmental sustainability.
• Investment Rationale: The backbone of decentralized applications (dApps) which could witness increased token demand with broader adoption.

Stablecoin

• Market Cap Contribution: Forms 10.6% of the industry cap.
• Utility & Prospects: These tokens maintain a peg with real-world assets like the US dollar, providing a cushion against volatility.
• Noteworthy Developments: Regulatory attentiveness and evolving discussions around Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).
• Investment Rationale: A prudent hedge against the inherent volatility of crypto assets.

Exchange Token

• Market Cap Contribution: They constitute 3.5% of the market cap.
• Utility & Prospects: Exclusive tokens within specific exchanges that provide various benefits and functionalities.
• Noteworthy Developments: Exchanges are diversifying their offerings encompassing DeFi, NFTs, and more.
• Investment Rationale: Growth and diversification of exchanges could augment the value and utility of their native tokens.

Digital Payment

• Market Cap Contribution: About 3.7% of the market cap.
• Utility & Prospects: They provide streamlined, cost-effective global payment solutions.
• Noteworthy Developments: Forming partnerships with global financial entities and payment providers.
• Investment Rationale: As digital payments become ubiquitous, these tokens are at the forefront of this transformation.

Wrapped Asset

• Market Cap Contribution: They represent 1.8% of the market cap.
• Utility & Prospects: Facilitating the representation of assets like Bitcoin or staked Ethereum on diverse blockchains.
• Noteworthy Developments: Escalated interest in integrating assets like Bitcoin into the DeFi landscape.
• Investment Rationale: Boosts liquidity and unveils opportunities for assets across various platforms.

Meme Coin

• Market Cap Contribution: The collective market cap of notable meme coins like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu represents about 1.2% of the total market cap.
• Utility & Prospects: Primarily propelled by community enthusiasm and viral trends as opposed to fundamental utility.
• Noteworthy Developments: A shift is seen with some meme coins venturing into utility-driven use cases.
• Investment Rationale: Their viral nature presents a high-growth potential, albeit with significant speculation.

L2 (Layer 2)

• Market Cap Contribution: L2 solutions account for 0.7% of the total market narrative.
• Utility & Prospects: They are pivotal in escalating the scalability of Layer 1 blockchains.
• Noteworthy Developments: Especially on Ethereum, widespread adoption is seen to ameliorate transaction efficiency.
• Investment Rationale: Addressing the scalability hurdle is crucial, making L2 solutions a compelling investment.

Blockchain Interoperability

• Market Cap Contribution: Constitutes 0.6% of the total market cap.
• Utility & Prospects: They pioneer in facilitating seamless interaction and communication across disparate blockchains.
• Noteworthy Developments: The melding of ecosystems is underway, fostering a unified multi-blockchain ambiance.
• Investment Rationale: The blockchain future may hinge on specialized chains interacting harmoniously.

Infrastructure

• Market Cap Contribution: They hold a 0.7% stake in the overall market cap.
• Utility & Prospects: The bedrock of tools and services amplifying blockchain functionality.
• Noteworthy Developments: Integration of smart contracts with real-world data and decentralized storage solutions are in progress.
• Investment Rationale: The burgeoning use cases of blockchain accentuate the criticality of robust infrastructure.

Privacy Coin

• Market Cap Contribution: Holds a modest 0.2% share in the total market cap.
• Utility & Prospects: Promotes anonymous transactions safeguarding user privacy.
• Noteworthy Developments: The discourse around regulation and privacy continues to evolve.
• Investment Rationale: Growing concerns around financial privacy may bolster demand for these coins.

DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization)

• Market Cap Contribution: A slender 0.1% share in the total market cap.
• Utility & Prospects: These decentralized entities are orchestrated by member voting sans central authority.
• Noteworthy Developments: Emergence of novel governance models and member-led initiatives are on the horizon.
• Investment Rationale: They embody the prospective future of organizational governance transcending traditional structures.

DeFi (Decentralized Finance)

• Market Cap Contribution: Commands a 0.5% share in the overall market cap.
• Utility & Prospects: A revolutionary paradigm shifting away from traditional financial systems to decentralized platforms.
• Noteworthy Developments: The trajectory of growing adoption is accompanied by enhanced cross-chain collaborations.
• Investment Rationale: DeFi stands as a vanguard that could overhaul the financial sector's landscape.

How to Buy these assets on Okto?

Diversifying your crypto portfolio or venturing into the digital currency realm has never been easier with Okto. This platform offers a seamless and user-friendly experience for purchasing various assets. If you're wondering how to get started, the following steps will guide you through the process of buying your desired tokens on Okto, ensuring a smooth and secure transaction. Let's dive in!

Step 1: Access Your Wallet

• Open the Okto app on your device.
• Navigate to the "Wallet" section to view your available token balances.

Step 2: Choose the Token You Want to Deposit

• Click on the "Search token to deposit..." bar.
• A list of tokens will be displayed. Choose the token you want to deposit by tapping on it.

Step 3: Decide the Amount and Token to Buy

• Once you've selected the token, determine the amount you want to swap.
• Below, choose the token you wish to receive in exchange. In the example given, the user is swapping USDT to receive BNB.

Step 4: Confirm the Swap Details

• Ensure that all the details of the swap are correct.
• Check the amount you'll receive and the associated fees.
• Once everything looks good, swipe to confirm the transaction.

Your tokens will then be swapped, and the new balance will reflect in your wallet once the transaction is complete. Remember to always double-check all transaction details before confirming to ensure a smooth swapping experience.

Trade Safely and DYOR!