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Market Data

How to read the numbers behind crypto: market cap and supply, ETF flows, Bitcoin dominance, exchange reserves, TVL and on-chain activity.

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Market DataBeginnerHow to use a free crypto price APIA free crypto price API returns coin quotes and market data over web requests; compare free-tier limits, get a key, and check the JSON in a test call.

Vahe Hakobyan3 min readRead guide

All Market Data guides

Every guide in this topic, labelled by level.

The title Cryptocurrency ETF over a dark navy background with glowing blue glass share tablets and a blank trading monitor on the right.

Market DataIntermediateCryptocurrency ETFs: What They Are and How to BuyA cryptocurrency ETF tracks bitcoin or ether prices and trades like a stock. You buy it through a regular brokerage account, not a crypto exchange.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026

The title Cryptocurrency market capitalization over a dark navy background with glowing blue abstract bars and dials on the right.

Market DataIntermediateCryptocurrency market capitalization: what it measuresCryptocurrency market cap is a coin's price times its circulating supply. It compares size, but not liquidity, real demand or ownership concentration.4 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026

The title Best cryptocurrency ETF: How to compare options over a dark desk with blank certificates, a vault and a glowing display.

Market DataIntermediateBest cryptocurrency ETF: How to compare optionsNo single cryptocurrency ETF is best for everyone. Compare spot, futures, and equity funds on fees, tracking, custody, and tax reporting before you choose.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026

The title sits above a dark background with abstract glowing blue bars and dials representing market mood.

Market DataIntermediateCrypto fear and greed index: what it measures and how to read itThe crypto fear and greed index turns crowd emotion into one score. It blends volatility, momentum, social posts and surveys into a daily reading.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

The title Cryptocurrency Liquidity Provider over a dark desk with a blue candlestick chart and trading tools on the right.

Market DataIntermediateCryptocurrency liquidity providers: what they do and earnA crypto liquidity provider supplies tokens so others can trade. Exchange LPs quote prices; DeFi LPs fund automated pools and earn a share of fees.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026

A dark navy desk with blank cards, a folder and a monitor showing abstract blue bars, lit by cool blue light.

Market DataIntermediateDoes Vanguard offer a cryptocurrency ETF?Vanguard has said it does not offer a cryptocurrency ETF and will not accept spot bitcoin ETF orders in its brokerage. Other issuers list them.3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026

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Market DataIntermediateWhy crypto market cap can mislead investorsCrypto market cap is price times circulating supply, not true value. It can hide locked tokens, thin liquidity and supply counts that differ by site.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

The title What is fully diluted valuation in crypto over a dark navy background with glowing blue data bars and dials on the right.

Market DataIntermediateFully diluted valuation in crypto: what it measuresFully diluted valuation estimates a token's total value if every possible coin circulated. The figure uses maximum supply and often runs above market cap.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

The guide title over a dark navy scene with two stacks of blank silver coins and a glass dome, lit by blue light.

Market DataIntermediateMarket cap vs fully diluted valuation: key differencesMarket cap uses circulating supply while FDV uses total supply, so a token can show two very different valuations. A wide gap signals future tokens.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

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Market DataIntermediateWhat is circulating supply in crypto?Circulating supply is the number of a crypto's coins or tokens the public can trade. It drives market cap, but not liquidity or real demand.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

The title What is total supply? appears over a dark background with glowing blue data bars and dials on the right.

Market DataIntermediateTotal supply: what it counts and what it leaves outTotal supply is every coin that exists, including locked reserves, minus burned coins. It differs from circulating and max supply; check the contract.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

A glowing blue coin stack on a dark navy background with the title 'What is maximum supply?' across the top.

Market DataIntermediateWhat is maximum supply in cryptocurrency?Maximum supply is the total coins a cryptocurrency's rules allow to ever exist. It sets a ceiling, while circulating supply counts coins available now.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

The title How to read a crypto token unlock schedule over a dark desk with a glowing tablet, folder and clock.

Market DataBeginnerHow to read a crypto token unlock scheduleA token unlock schedule lists when locked tokens become available. Read each column, compare with supply and volume, then check on-chain records.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

The title Why do token unlocks matter? over a dark navy background with glowing blue glass cubes joined by light lines.

Market DataIntermediateWhy do token unlocks matter?Token unlocks add tradable supply and can create sell pressure, but a price drop is not guaranteed. Supply size and recipient type shape the effect.2 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

Market DataIntermediateBitcoin dominance: what it measures and how to read itBitcoin dominance shows Bitcoin's share of the whole crypto market's value, worked out from market caps rather than money invested or trading volume.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

Market DataBeginnerHow to interpret changes in Bitcoin dominanceBitcoin dominance changes show whether Bitcoin is gaining or losing share of the crypto market; compare them with total market value and stablecoin share.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

The title over a dark navy scene of glowing blue bars and dials on a desk, objects on the right and empty dark space on the left.

Market DataIntermediateWhat exchange inflow measures and how to read itExchange inflow measures crypto sent to exchange wallets over a chosen period. It shows potential selling pressure, not proof of sales for the asset.2 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

A dark scene with glowing blue data bars and dials, a blank-screen device, and a glass block, with empty space on the left.

Market DataIntermediateExchange outflow: what the metric measuresExchange outflow measures crypto withdrawn from exchange wallets to outside wallets. Netflow, deposits minus withdrawals, shows the net direction.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

The title 'How to interpret exchange reserves' over a dark desk with glowing blue monitors, blank papers and a glass vault door.

Market DataBeginnerExchange reserves: what a proof report shows and leaves outExchange reserves show what an exchange says it holds, but a proof-of-reserves does not prove solvency. Check its date, auditor, and liabilities.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

The guide title over a dark navy background with two glass blocks joined by a glowing blue light strand on the right.

Market DataIntermediateOn-chain activity: what it is and how to read itOn-chain activity is the transactions and actions recorded on a public blockchain ledger. It covers transfers, smart contract calls, staking and minting.2 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

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Market DataIntermediateWhat active addresses measure in cryptoActive addresses measure unique addresses that send or receive crypto in a set period, not people. One user or exchange can control many wallets.2 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

The title Why can active address counts be misleading? over a dark navy background with glowing blue abstract bars and dials.

Market DataIntermediateWhy active address counts can be misleadingActive address counts can be misleading because they count addresses, not people. Providers define active differently, and bots can distort the number.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

The guide's title over a dark navy background with glowing blue glass blocks linked by light lines on the right.

Market DataBeginnerHow to interpret a blockchain transaction countA blockchain transaction count totals confirmed transfers in blocks over a period, not users or value. Check the publisher and counted categories.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

The title What is total value locked in DeFi over a dark navy background with glass blocks joined by blue light and glowing bars.

Market DataIntermediateWhat is total value locked in DeFi?Total value locked (TVL) is the dollar value of crypto assets deposited in DeFi smart contracts. It sums each token's amount times its current price.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

The title Why can total value locked be misleading? over a dark navy background with glowing blue abstract bars and dials on the right.

Market DataIntermediateWhy total value locked can mislead youTVL can mislead because it counts deposited tokens at current prices, not unique money, and the same asset can easily be counted more than once.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

The title 'What does protocol revenue mean?' over a dark navy background with glowing blue light flowing through glass pipes into a basin.

Market DataIntermediateProtocol revenue: what it means and how to read itProtocol revenue is the share of fees a protocol itself collects from network activity, not the total users pay. Read it with market value and the trend.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

A dark navy desk with glass blocks joined by light, a blank calculator, a blank form and a pen, with the left side empty.

Market DataBeginnerHow to compare blockchain fees across networksYou compare blockchain fees by pricing the same transaction in US dollars on each network, then adding bridge, exchange withdrawal and failure costs.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

How to interpret fear and greed extremes title over a glowing blue dial and abstract market bars in a dark navy room.

Market DataBeginnerHow to interpret fear and greed extremesTo interpret fear and greed extremes, treat them as a crowd emotion gauge, not a precise signal. Check the date, since the best-known index updates daily.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

What is stablecoin supply growth? title over a dark navy background with a stack of blank coins glowing blue on the right.

Market DataIntermediateStablecoin supply growth: what it measures and missesStablecoin supply growth is the change in tokens outstanding over a period. It comes from net minting and redemptions, not demand or reserve safety.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

The title How to interpret stablecoin exchange balances over a dark desk with glowing blue bar charts and dials on the right.

Market DataBeginnerHow to interpret stablecoin exchange balancesStablecoin exchange balances show stablecoin value held in exchange wallets. Treat a rising total as potential buying power, not guaranteed demand.2 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026

Questions

Short answers to what people ask most.

A coin's price times its circulating supply. Fully diluted valuation uses the maximum supply instead, showing the value if every token were already issued.

Circulating supply is what trades now, total supply is what has been created minus burned tokens, and max supply is the most that can ever exist.

Bitcoin's share of the total crypto market cap. A rising share usually means money is moving toward bitcoin and away from altcoins.

Net inflows mean investors put more money into the funds than they took out that day, and the issuers buy the underlying coin. Flows do not show who is buying or why.

Total value locked is the dollar value of assets deposited in DeFi protocols. It rises with token prices as well as with new deposits, which can make it misleading.