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The most valuable commodities, crypto assets and ETFs by market capitalization

Commodities, crypto assets and ETFs. Have you ever asked yourself which asset is the largest in the world by market size?

Below is an overview of the most valuable assets addressed by market capitalization, measured in US dollars.

The most important facts in brief:

  • The most valuable asset by market capitalization is gold
  • The top ten most valuable assets by market size (commodities, crypto and ETFs) include a total of four commodities
  • The crypto asset Bitcoin (BTC) is the tenth most valuable crypto asset in the world, followed by Ether (ETH)

The most valuable commodities, crypto assets and ETFs by market capitalization in 2024 in the table

PlatzNameAsset classMarket size in trillion US dollars
1GoldRaw material17,903
2silverRaw material1,768
3BitcoinCrypto1,235
4SPDR S&P 500 ETF TrustETF0,521
5EthereumCrypto0,292
6PlatinumRaw material0,243
7Invesco QQQ TrustETF0,189
8PalladiumRaw material0,178

Source: Companiesmarketcap, status: 08.10.2024

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1. gold (17.903 trillion US dollars)

With a valuation of USD 17.903 trillion, the precious metal gold is the most valuable asset by market capitalization in the world.

Gold is generally targeted in market phases characterized by uncertainty. In times of economic and/or geopolitical uncertainties, the yellow precious metal is also seen as a kind of "safe haven" in many places.

As a rule, the gold price is quoted in troy ounces per US dollar, which is currently quoted at 2,618 dollars (08.10.2024). One troy ounce corresponds to 31.1034768 grams.

2. silver (1.768 trillion US dollars)

In second place in the ranking of the most valuable commodities, crypto assets and ETFs is silver (USD 1.768 trillion), making it the second precious metal in the ranking behind gold (USD 17.903 trillion). Silver is often referred to as the "little brother" of the precious metal gold and is consequently often targeted in times of crisis. Compared to gold, silver is used in many areas of industry, such as the electrical and solar sectors. Silver can also be found in the medical and textile industries.

3. bitcoin (1.235 trillion US dollars)

The leading crypto asset Bitcoin (BTC) is in third place in the ranking (1.235 trillion US dollars). Bitcoin is secured and defined by cryptography. The Bitcoin network is based on a so-called "blockchain", which acts as an infrastructure. Bitcoin is decentralized and works completely without middlemen.

Bitcoin was invented in 2008 by the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto.

4. SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (0.521 trillion US dollars)

The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust is an exchange-traded fund that is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The aim of the ETF is to track the S&P 500 index.

The S&P 500 (Standard & Poor's 500) includes the shares of the 500 largest listed US companies. The leading index is weighted according to market capitalization and is one of the most important share indices in the world. Due to the size of the index, the S&P 500 is also seen as a benchmark for the performance of the entire US market.

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5. ethereum (0.292 trillion US dollars)

The second most important crypto asset in terms of market size, Ether (ETH), came in fifth place in the ranking. Ethereum acts as an ecosystem for smart contracts and is considered a second-generation blockchain. In addition to being used as a means of payment, Ethereum can also be used to run programs such as supply chain management. For example, it is possible to trace goods and service locations.

Ethereum was invented in 2013 by Vitalik Buterin.

6. platinum (0.243 trillion US dollars)

Platinum is primarily used as a so-called industrial metal and is by definition as rare as the precious metal gold. Platinum is used in the automotive industry in particular and is required for the production of automotive catalytic converters, for example.

Compared to gold and silver, however, platinum is only mined in a few places in the world. South Africa is the largest producer, accounting for around two thirds of total platinum production.

Platinum ranks sixth in the ranking with a valuation of 0.243 trillion US dollars.

7 Invesco QQQ Trust (0.189 trillion US dollars)

The Invesco QQQ Trust is worth USD 0.189 trillion, which corresponds to seventh place. The trust is therefore valued higher than palladium (USD 0.178 trillion).

The fund invests in all stocks that are components of the NASDAQ-100 Index.

The NASDAQ lists the 100 US companies with the highest market capitalization outside the financial sector. In purely technical terms, the NASDAQ-100 acts as a price index.

The index is weighted according to the market size of the listed companies.

8. palladium (0.178 trillion US dollars)

Although palladium is traded less frequently than gold and silver, it is becoming increasingly popular in investor circles. Economic developments have a major influence on price trends.

Russia is the largest producer of the precious metal, ahead of South Africa. In the past, platinum has been increasingly replaced by palladium, as this is considered to be significantly cheaper. In addition to being used in car catalytic converters, the precious metal is also used in jewelry, for example.

The market valuation of palladium is only 0.178 trillion US dollars.

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Summary: Gold shines the brightest - crypto assets on the rise

The world's most valuable asset by market capitalization is gold (USD 17.903 trillion), which is more than ten times as valuable as the second-placed asset, silver (USD 1.768 trillion).

A total of two commodities are represented: gold, silver, platinum and palladium.

The crypto assets Bitcoin with USD 1.235 trillion (3rd place) and Ethereum (USD 0.292 trillion, 5th place) should also not be neglected.

The SPDR S&P 500 ETF and Invesco QQQ trusts are considered the world's largest exchange-traded funds by market size.

FAQ - Frequently asked questions

What is the most valuable asset by market capitalization?

With a valuation of USD 17.903 trillion, the precious metal gold is the most valuable asset by market capitalization.

Which ETFs are the most important in terms of market size?

The most important funds in terms of market size are the SPDR S&P 500 ETF and Invesco QQQ trusts. While the former attempts to replicate the S&P 500, the Invesco QQQ tracks the performance of the NASDAQ 100.

Which crypto assets are represented in the ranking?

Bitcoin and Ether are the most valuable crypto assets in the world in terms of market capitalization. However, the Bitcoin market size is only USD 1.235 trillion, which is around 15 times less than gold. Ether has a market capitalization of 0.292 trillion US dollars.

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Timo Emden

Timo Emden holds a B.A. in Business Administration, is a market analyst and a certified blockchain expert from the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management. He has been following the global financial markets for over 14 years, with a focus on crypto assets. His assessments are based on chart technology and sentiment - he nevertheless considers important fundamental events to be significant. As a market expert, Mr. Emden is a valued contact for TV, press and radio.

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Taxes: The tax treatment of financial instruments depends on the personal circumstances of the respective investor and may be subject to future changes, which may also have a retroactive effect.

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