Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency to reach a $1 trillion market capitalization.
Market capitalization is calculated by multiplying an asset’s price by the number of units in circulation. Bitcoin crossed the $1 trillion mark for the first time in February 2021, during a major rally that pushed its price above $50,000.
The milestone reflected Bitcoin’s first-mover advantage, limited supply, growing institutional interest, and rising public awareness. Its maximum supply is designed to be 21 million coins, although not all coins had been mined or were actively circulating at the time.
A common mix-up is Ethereum, which later became one of the first other cryptocurrencies to approach or exceed trillion-dollar valuations. Market-cap milestones can also vary slightly by data provider because cryptocurrency prices differ between exchanges and change continuously.