Circulating Supply
The number of coins or tokens of a cryptocurrency that are currently available and circulating in the market.
Why It Matters
Circulating supply refers to the number of tokens currently available in the market. Understanding this metric helps investors assess the potential value and scarcity of a cryptocurrency, guiding informed investment decisions.
Example
For instance, if a cryptocurrency has a total supply of 1 million tokens but only 500,000 are in circulation, this indicates limited availability, possibly influencing its price in the future.
Beginner Context
For beginners, grasping circulating supply is crucial for understanding market dynamics. It helps you evaluate how a cryptocurrency may perform based on its availability and demand.
Mike Starr
Founder, CryptoWizardTools · M.S. Organizational Management
Last reviewed: August 2026
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Market Cap
Market Capitalization. The total value of a cryptocurrency calculated by multiplying its current price by the total circulating supply.
Max Supply
The maximum number of coins or tokens that will ever exist for a given cryptocurrency. Bitcoin has a max supply of 21 million BTC. Once the max supply is reached, no new coins can be created, making the asset deflationary by design.
FDV
Fully Diluted Valuation. The theoretical market capitalization of a cryptocurrency if all tokens in its maximum supply were in circulation at the current price.
Tokenomics
The economic model and properties of a cryptocurrency token, including supply mechanics, distribution, incentives, and utility within its ecosystem.
Token Burn
The deliberate destruction of a quantity of tokens by sending them to an unspendable wallet address. Token burns reduce the circulating supply, which can increase scarcity. Some protocols conduct regular token burns as part of their tokenomics model.