This weekly update follows the biggest cryptocurrencies by market share: Bitcoin and Ether. Although both are high‑risk assets, they have core differences that investors need to recognize. XRP is also included because it ranked among the largest cryptocurrencies when this series started. A September 29.
Ether dropped 3% this week, while XRP remained unchanged.
Bitcoin is down about 4% year‑to‑date, and Ether has slipped roughly 10% year‑to‑date.
Bitcoin
Bitcoin was the world’s first decentralized digital currency. Since the inaugural transaction in early 2009, it has expanded globally into a mainstream financial asset. Although it often experiences volatility—as shown in the chart below—many argue that Bitcoin remains highly resilient, especially as product innovation creates new ways for investors to handle its price swings.
Bitcoin’s closing price declined 1.5% this week even though it has seen a broader rebound. BTC is currently about 12% lower year‑to‑date and sits roughly 38% beneath its October 2025 record high.
Learn more about Bitcoin basics for new investors.
