CoinGecko’s 2024 Annual Crypto Industry Report found that Bitcoin (BTC) solidified its position as the cornerstone of the crypto market, increasing its dominance to 53.6% of total market capitalization by year-end.
Bitcoin outperformed all major asset classes in 2024, delivering a staggering +121.5% annual return.
Bitcoin’s fourth halving in 2024 marked a pivotal moment in the cryptocurrency market, initiating its fourth bull cycle. However, the dynamics of this rally were shaped by unexpected macroeconomic and geopolitical events.
From the approval of US spot Bitcoin ETFs to central bank rate cuts and Donald Trump’s re-election, these factors propelled Bitcoin and the broader crypto market to new heights.
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Total Crypto Market Cap Surges Nearly 100% In 2024
The research found that the total cryptocurrency market capitalization nearly doubled in 2024. It grew by an impressive 97.7% over the year to reach an all-time high of $3.91 trillion in mid-December.
This growth was particularly pronounced in Q4, where the market cap rose 45.7% quarter-on-quarter, adding $1.07 trillion.
In fact, average daily trading volume skyrocketed from $31.1 billion in Q3 to $62.6 billion in Q4, an increase of 101.3% QoQ.
Over $190 billion in spot volume was recorded on 6 December 2024 alone when Bitcoin broke above $100,000, marking a yearly high.
“2024 Q4 was a landmark quarter for Bitcoin (BTC), as it rallied past $100,000 for the first time on 9 December 2024,” the report stated. It reached a high of $108,135 before retracing slightly to end the year at $93,508. This represents a 121.5% increase from the start of the year.
Bitcoin’s record-breaking rally to $108,135 symbolized renewed investor confidence, while emerging trends like AI integration and Layer 2 scalability solutions showcased crypto’s evolving utility beyond speculative investments.
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Market Cap of AI Agents Grew 322.2% In 2024 Q4
AI agents became one of the fastest-growing sectors within crypto in Q4 2024. Their market capitalization skyrocketed by 322.2%, from $4.8 billion to $15.5 billion.
Notably, the launch of GOAT on Solana spurred initial interest in AI agents.
Meanwhile, Centralized exchanges (CEXs) experienced unprecedented activity in Q4 2024, with spot trading volumes reaching an all-time high of $6.45 trillion, up 111.7% QoQ.
The key players include Binance. It maintained its dominance with a 34.7% market share among top CEXs. Upbit was the fastest-growing CEX in Q4, with trading volumes surging 314.8% QoQ, driven by heightened activity during South Korea’s political turmoil.
Overall, CEXs processed $17.4 trillion in spot trading volume throughout 2024—more than double the $7.2 trillion recorded in 2023.
XRP saw its market share climb to 3.5%, making it one of the standout performers alongside Bitcoin in Q4 2024. This allowed XRP to leapfrog BNB and Solana to secure the fourth spot by market cap.
Dogecoin (DOGE) also re-entered the top seven cryptocurrencies by market cap for the first time since April 2021, replacing USDC stablecoin—a notable shift reflecting changing investor sentiment.
The post Bitcoin Outperformed Major Asset Classes In 2024, Specifically In Q4, CoinGecko Annual Report Finds appeared first on 99Bitcoins.
