15 Cryptocurrencies With Billion-Dollar Market Caps

Though they may have begun the year as a taboo investment, cryptocurrencies as a whole have taken center stage and captured the attention of investors worldwide. With more than 1,300 virtual currencies combining for a market cap of $336 billion, the aggregate increase since the beginning of the year, through Dec. 3, is about 1,800%. Mind you, it would take decades for the stock market to generate historically similar returns for investors.

What's really come into focus is the potential for blockchain technology, which underlies most cryptocurrencies. Blockchain is the digital and decentralized ledger than records all transactions without the need for a financial middleman, like a bank. Because these networks are open source, altering data would prove exceptionally difficult. Also, since they're decentralized, the ability of cybercriminals to disrupt a network is pretty low.

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Source: Fool.com