CoinDesk Guide to the World's National Altcoins
All you need to know about national cryptocurrencies – a new trend in altcoin development.

Maplecoin Even Canada, the country whose fiat currency is desired by a majority of Iceland's population, has its own cryptocurrency. Using a version of Scrypt "specifically designed to mimic the value curve and rarity of precious metal commodities", Maplecoin will have absolutely no premine and reflects its country's fortune-seeking and pioneering history with this "klondike-style" distribution.
Sorry Spain, you're not the only country with two after all! Gaelcoin has a competitor in Irishcoin, with a rollout planned for "early April", but that's about all we know at this stage.
In other news, New Zealand's favorite adopted son Kim Dotcom has announced he's launching a local Internet Party, and has plans for a national cryptocurrency (yet to be named).
World image via Shutterstock
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KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.
What to know:
- KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
- This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
- Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
- Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
- Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
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Here’s why bitcoin’s is failing its role as a 'safe haven' versus gold

Bitcoin behaves more like an "ATM" during uncertain times, with investors quickly selling it to raise cash.
What to know:
- During recent geopolitical tensions, Bitcoin lost 6.6% of its value, while gold rose 8.6%, demonstrating bitcoin's vulnerability in times of market stress.
- Bitcoin behaves more like an "ATM" during uncertain times, with investors quickly selling it to raise cash, contrary to its reputation as a stable digital asset.
- Gold remains the preferred hedge for short-term risks, while bitcoin is better suited for long-term monetary and geopolitical uncertainties that unfold over years.











