The cryptocurrency market recorded another year of explosive growth in 2025, with millions of new digital assets entering circulation.

Specifically, as of December 21, 2025, the total number of cryptocurrencies tracked by CoinMarketCap stood at 28.62 million. 

At the beginning of the year, on January 1, 2025, the figure was approximately 5.83 million, indicating that about 22.74 million new tokens were added over the course of the year. This growth represents an almost 390% surge. 

Insights from CoinMarketCap’s issuance metrics show that the momentum remained strong throughout the year rather than being confined to a single period. 

In the final 24 hours leading up to December 20, around 44,885 new cryptocurrencies were created. Over the previous seven days, that number climbed to 251,570, while more than 1.21 million new tokens were added over the last 30 days alone.

The data also showed sharp issuance spikes, with token creation peaking at a 2025 daily high of 1,305,553 new cryptocurrencies on July 8.

Why new cryptocurrencies spiked 

Notably, the surge in new cryptocurrencies was driven by lower technical barriers from low-code tools and improved infrastructure, alongside the expansion of layer-1s, layer-2s, and application-specific chains. 

Speculation, led by meme coins and short-lived experiments fueled by social media, amplified issuance, while lighter and uneven global regulation made launching tokens far easier than issuing traditional financial assets.

Despite rapid growth, most new tokens fail to achieve lasting liquidity, adoption, or major listings and often fade within months, leaving only a small fraction economically relevant. 

The expanding token universe has also raised concerns over capital dilution, as alternative assets compete for attention and speculative flows, potentially trimming Bitcoin’s (BTC) short-term inflows, though analysts stress that Bitcoin’s fixed supply, security, and institutional standing keep its role structurally distinct.

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