If you're looking for the new cryptocurrency releases that have taken place in 2021, we've got you covered.
It has been over 13 years since the initial launch of Bitcoin. While it was not technically the first cryptocurrency, after the release of BTC, the crypto market exploded, leading to a plethora of new cryptocurrencies releasing every year.
So, with 2020 seeing the release of Shiba Inu coin, for example, which has now exploded into the top cryptocurrencies, what does 2021 have in store?
New Cryptocurrency Releases 2021
Hundreds of new cryptocurrencies - whether altcoins or tokens - are released every month. In May 2021, there was a total of 10,115 (via CoinMarketCap). By early December, this number is 15,309.
As with any cryptocurrency, it's worth doing your careful research before investing in any cryptocurrency.
Looking back to the early part of the year, 2021 saw the release of SafeMoon (March 2021), Internet Computer (May 2021), and Dubai Coin (May 2021), for example. Transactions on the Chia network also began in May 2021.
We have also seen a surge in 'memecoins' based around the 'Doge' meme and the Shiba Inu breed. This includes Baby Doge Coin, Baby Shiba Inu and Floki Inu.
Aside from cryptocurrency coins, 2021 has seen the explosion of NFTs and blockchain-based games. You can check out our guide to the new NFT games for 2021 and how to find new NFT projects.
New Cryptocurrency Releases December 2021
Looking more closely to December 2021, there are plenty of new coins and tokens that launched this month.
These include the likes of Son of Doge (SOD), Arcade Network (ARC), Kaizilla, Cryptogram, and the Monster Adventure Token (MAT).
DAO-based tokens also seem to be popular new cryptocurrencies this month. These cryptocurrencies form part of Decentralised Autonomous Organisations, with the influx likely spurred by the media attention gained by ConstitutionDAO in its bid to buy a copy of the US Constitution.
These include: SuperBrain Capital Dao, PAPA DAO, humanDAO and CheeseDAO.
However, as with any cryptocurrency, it's worth doing a hefty amount of due diligence before investing in a new coin. The Squid Game Token, for example, first released in November and, after gaining rapid traction, dropped 99.99% after an alleged rug pull.
You can see a list of the most recent cryptocurrencies here.
Upcoming Cryptocurrency Releases 2021
Looking further into the future, the Facebook-backed digital currency Diem (previously known as Libra) may release towards the end of the year, or in 2022.
Amazon may have plans for its own digital currency, but its rebuttal of suggestions it could soon accept bitcoin may mean this is still some time off. This may be to the frustration of Shiba Inu Coin hodlers, who launched several petitions asking Amazon to list SHIB.
There are also countless ICOs and IDOs starting and ending in 2021 for both tokens and platforms. These include the likes of RaceFi, BSC Memepad, and the Santos FC Fan Token.
You can check out CoinMarketCap's ICO calendar here.
Cryptocurrency Updates 2021
However, it's not just about the new cryptocurrencies. 2021 has already seen multiple BNB Burns and Cardano hard forks, with more to come in the next few months.
Ethereum recently went through its London hard fork in August, which introduced EIP-1559. Ethereum 2.0, however, may not release until 2022, bringing in the era of Ethereum staking.
As for Cardano, its Alonzo hard fork on September 12 ushered in the era of smart contracts. The Hydra L2 chain and the Djed stablecoin are both slated for release in the future.
Dogecoin may even receive a 1.21 upgrade, although the release has yet to be confirmed. It recently updated to Dogecoin Core 1.14.5.
Meanwhile, the Shiba Inu Coin ecosystem is set to undergo several significant expansions in the future. Following the launch of its Shiboshi NFTs, an undisclosed AAA studio will create a Shiba Inu game with a former Activision developer. Aside from this, projects such as the Shibarium Layer-2, Doggy DAO, and the ShibaNet are all in the works.
After the Bitcoin Taproot upgrade went live in November, it is unlikely we will see any major Bitcoin updates before the end of the year.
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