Contents
- 1 Examples of currently active cryptocurrencies
- 2 Examples of inactive / defunct cryptocurrencies
Examples of currently active cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies employing both Proof-of-Work (PoW) and Proof-of-Stake (PoS) system blockchain
Peercoin
Released in 2012, Peercoin was the first cryptocurrency to use both PoW and PoS functions for its blockchain.
Abbreviation: PPC
Founder: The pseudonym Sunny King
Hash algorithm: SHA-256d
Programming language of implementation: C++
Decred
Released in 2016, the cryptocurrency Decred have built in governance and utlizes a PoW/PoS hybrid solution for its blockchain.
Abbreviation: DCR
Founder: The pseudonym Sunny King
Hash algorithm: Blake-256
Programming language of implementation: Go
Cryptocurrencies employing a Proof-of-Work (PoW) system blockchain
Released in 2009
Bitcoin
Bitcoin, the trailblazer of cryptocurrencies, was released in 2009.
The founder or founder group used the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto.
Abbreviation: BTC or XBT
Programming language of implementation: C++
Hash algorithm: SHA-256d
Released in 2011
| Currency | Abbreviation | Founder | Hash algorithm | Programming language of implementation | Notes |
| Litecoin (Ł) | LTC | Charlie Lee | Scrypt | C++ | Litecoin was one of the first
cryptocurrencies to use Scrypt as a hashing algorithm. |
| Namecoin | NMC | Vincent Durham | SHA-256d | C++ | Also acts as an alternative
decentralized DNS. |
Released in 2013
| Currency | Abbreviation | Founder | Hash algorithm | Programming language of implementation | Notes |
| Dogecoin (Ð) | DOGE
XDG |
Jackson Palmer and Billy Markus | Scrypt | C++ | Name derived from the Doge
internet meme. |
| Primecoin | XPM | The pseudonym Sunny King | 1CC/2CC/TWN | C++
TypeScript |
Uses the finding of prime
chains composed of Cunningham chains and bi-twin chains for proof-of-work. |
Released in 2014
| Currency | Abbreviation | Founder | Hash algorithm | Programming language of implementation | Notes |
| Auroracoin | AUR | Baldur Odinsson (pseudonym) |
Scrypt | C++ | Created as an alternative currency
for Icelandic use. |
| Dash | DASH | Evan Duffield
and |
X11 | C++ | Uses both PoW & Proof of Service. |
| MazaCoin | MZC | BTC Oyate Initiative | SHA-256d | C++ | The underlying software is derived
from that of the cryptocurrency ZetaCoin. |
| Monero | XMR | Monero Core Team | CryptoNight | C++ | Utilizes the CryptoNote protocol
with improvements for scalability and decentralization. |
| Titcoin | TIT | Edward Mansfield and
Richard Allen |
SHA-256d | C++
TypeScript |
The first cryptocurrency to be
nominated for a major adult industry award. |
| Verge | XVG | Sunerok | Scrypt, x17, groestl, blake2s, and lyra2rev2 | C
C++ |
Facilitates anonymous transactions
using Tor and I2P. |
| Vertcoin | VTC | Bushido | Lyra2RE | C++ | Next-gen ASIC resistance and
first cryptocurrency to implement stealth addresses. |
Released in 2015
| Currency | Abbreviation | Founder | Hash algorithm | Programming language of implementation | Notes |
| Ether | ETH | Vitalik Buterin | Ethash | C++
Go |
Supports Turing-complete
smart contracts. |
| Ethereum Classic | ETC | Ethash | An alternative version of
Ethereum whose blockchain does not include the DAO Hard-fork. Supports Turing-complete smart contracts. |
Released in 2016
| Currency | Abbreviation | Founder | Hash algorithm | Programming language of implementation | Notes |
| Zcash | ZEC | Zooko Wilcox | Equihash | C++ | The first open,
permissionless financial system employing zero-knowledge security. |
Released in 2017
| Currency | Abbreviation | Founder | Hash algorithm | Programming language of implementation | Notes |
| Bitcoin Cash | BCH | SHA-256d | A hard fork from Bitcoin,
with 8 mb block size instead of 1 mb. |
Released in 2018
| Currency | Abbreviation | Founder | Hash algorithm | Programming language of implementation | Notes |
| Bitcoin Private | BTCP | Equihash | C++ | A hard fork (co-fork) of
BTC and Zclassic.
Utilizes zkSNARK to facilitate anonymous payments. |
Cryptocurrencies employing a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) system blockchain
Released in 2013
| Currency | Abbreviation | Founder | Hash algorithm | Programming language of implementation | Notes |
| Gridcoin | GRC | Rob Hälford | Scrypt | C++ | Decentralized PoS |
| Nxt | NXT | BCNext (pseudonym) |
SHA-256d | Java |
Released in 2014
| Currency | Abbreviation | Founder | Hash algorithm | Programming language of implementation | Notes |
| PotCoin | POT | Potcoin core dev team | Scrypt | C++ | Developed to service
legal cannabis trade in the USA. |
Released in 2017
| Currency | Abbreviation | Founder | Hash algorithm | Programming language of implementation | Notes |
| EOS.IO | EOS | Dan Larimer | WebAssembly
Rust
C
C++ |
Delegated PoS
Utilizes a feeless Smart contract platform for decentralized applications and decentralized autonomous corporations with a block time of 500 ms.
|
Others
Released in 2013
| Currency | Abbreviation | Founder | Hash algorithm | Programming language of implementation | Notes |
| Ripple | XRP | Christ Larsen
and Jed McCaleb |
ECDSA | C++ | This cryptocurrency was
designed for peer-to-peer debt transfer.
Instead of using PoS or PoW, Ripple relies on the Consensus model. |
Released in 2014
| Currency | Abbreviation | Founder | Hash algorithm | Programming language of implementation | Notes |
| Dash | DASH | Evan Duffield
and Kyle Hagan |
X11 | C++ | This cryptocurrency is
based on Bitcoin, but Dash utilizes both Proof-of-Work and Proof-of-Service.
|
| NEO | NEO | Da Hongfei & Erik Zhang | SHA-256
RIPEMD160 |
C# (C Sharp) | Instead of PoW of PoS,
NEO relies on dBFT.
NEO was chiefly developed for the Chinese market.
Formerly known as ANT Shares and ANT Coins. The name NEO was introduced in 2017.
|
| Stellar | XLM | Jed McCaleb | SCP | C
C++ |
Instead of PoW or PoS,
Stellar uses the Stellar Protocol (SCP). |
| NEM | XEM | UtopianFuture (pseudonym) | SHA3-512 | Java | Utilizes POI instead of
PoW or PoS. This is a hybrid public/private blockchain cryptocurrency.
Instead of PoW or PoS, it uses the Proof of Importance algorithm based on the EigenTrust++ reputation system. |
Examples of inactive / defunct cryptocurrencies
Coinve (KOI / COYE)
Released in 2014, this cryptocurrency was based on a PoW system and utilized the hash algorithm Scrypt. It used the United States hip hop artist Kanye West as its mascot, and when West filed a trademark lawsuit, the project was abandonned.
BitConnect (BCC)
Released in 2017, BitConnect quickly went from being hailed as a conventient all-in-one Bitcoin and crypto-community platform to being regarded as a Ponzi scheme.
KodakCoin
Founded by Kodak and WENN Digital, this cryptocurrency was released in 2018 and marketed as a “photographer-centric” blockchain cryptocurrency intended for license payments. The hash algorithm was Ethash.
Petro
This cryptocurrenty was released in 2018 by the government of Venezuela, and was – according to President Nicolas Maduro – backed by Venezuela’s oil reserves. The programming language of implementation was C++ and the hash algorithm was onixCoin. As of November 2018, Petro does not appear to be functioning.