What is circulating supply in crypto?

What Is Circulating Supply in Crypto?

Circulating supply is the number of coins or tokens that have been issued and are in the hands of the public (not locked, burned, or held by the team in a way that is not yet released). It is the supply that can realistically be traded. Market cap is usually calculated as price times circulating supply.

Why It Matters

It helps you compare projects. A coin with a small circulating supply and high price might have a similar market cap to one with a large supply and low price. Total or max supply shows how much can ever exist. If a lot is still to be released, selling pressure can increase over time.

Where to Find It

Listing sites (CoinMarketCap, CoinGecko) show circulating supply, total supply, and max supply. Check unlock schedules for team and investor tokens. In India, when you buy crypto, you are buying from the circulating supply at the current price.