If you want to enter the crypto space, you first need to understand what the main types of cryptocurrencies are. I'll start with the most basic ones.

Bitcoin is the beginning of the entire crypto world and the most important presence. As the world's first blockchain digital currency, it is called "digital gold," mainly used for store of value. Many institutions and large investors consider BTC as part of their long-term asset allocation.

Next is Ethereum, a platform that has transformed the entire crypto ecosystem. It is not just a currency but a complete platform capable of running smart contracts, supporting various decentralized applications, DeFi protocols, and NFT projects. In simple terms, ETH is the infrastructure foundation for the entire Web3 application layer.

Besides these two giants, there is a special category of assets that cannot be ignored—stablecoins. USDT (Tether) is a typical example; it is pegged to the US dollar, with 1 USDT roughly equal to 1 USD. These coins play a crucial role, acting as a bridge between fiat currency and cryptocurrencies, facilitating trading and risk management.

Other mainstream types of cryptocurrencies include established projects like Litecoin, as well as various emerging public chain tokens in recent years, such as native tokens in the BSC and SOL ecosystems. These projects each have their own features, representing different technological routes and application directions.

Mastering these basic categories of cryptocurrencies is very helpful for understanding the overall market structure. If you want to learn more, you can check the real-time prices of these assets on Gate.