CoinMarketCap is a cryptocurrency market-data service founded in 2013. It organizes price, volume, market-capitalization, supply, exchange, and token information from many reported sources. It is primarily an information platform rather than a custodial exchange or wallet.
What the service measures
CoinMarketCap publishes live and historical market information for cryptoassets and exchanges. Its methodology converts reported market-pair prices and volumes into common units, then applies rules for aggregation, liquidity, supply, and rankings.
A displayed price is an aggregate
The value shown for an asset is derived from reported market pairs and the provider’s inclusion, conversion, weighting, and outlier rules. Another provider can reach a different result without either number being a direct executable quote.
Website, apps, and API access
Most public market pages can be viewed without an account. Optional accounts support features such as watchlists and portfolios, while the API provides structured current and historical data for developers and businesses.
Data is not custody or execution
CoinMarketCap states that it is not itself an exchange or wallet and does not hold an account balance for users. Some pages can route wallet-based trades through third-party decentralized exchanges, but the connected wallet and underlying protocol handle the transaction.
Market tracking does not create a custodial balance
An optional portfolio or watchlist records information chosen by the user. It does not mean CoinMarketCap holds those assets or can move them.
Sources
Independent educational profile, not an endorsement. Market data is aggregated and may differ between providers or source exchanges.