What CoinMarketCap does, its 2026 API pricing tiers, key features, Binance ownership, pros, cons and frequently asked questions.
Category
Finance
Pricing
Freemium website with a tiered, credit-based developer API subscription, from Free public website and basic API access; paid API plans start at roughly 29 USD per month billed annually (Hobbyist tier)
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 19, 2026
Founded
2013
Headquarters
New York, United States (founding headquarters); now operates as part of Binance's global organizational structure
CoinMarketCap Core Features
CoinMarketCap tracks real-time and historical prices, market capitalization, and trading volume for tens of thousands of cryptocurrencies and tokens across thousands of exchanges.
It also offers portfolio tracking, DexScan for decentralized exchange data across 70-plus blockchain networks, NFT tracking, sentiment indicators like the Fear and Greed Index, and ETF tracking for Bitcoin and Ethereum products.
CoinMarketCap's Ownership by Binance
Binance acquired CoinMarketCap in March 2020 in a deal estimated at 300 to 400 million dollars, but both companies state that CoinMarketCap continues to operate as an editorially independent business.
Binance does not influence CoinMarketCap's rankings or listed data, and CoinMarketCap does not influence Binance's exchange operations, according to public statements from both companies.
CoinMarketCap API Pricing
CoinMarketCap's developer API is priced in tiers: Hobbyist at 29 dollars per month billed annually, Startup at 79 dollars per month annually, Standard at 3,588 dollars per month, and Professional at 699 dollars per month billed annually, with custom Basic and Enterprise tiers available.
The platform also supports keyless public endpoints and pay-per-request access via the x402 protocol for lightweight integrations that don't require a subscription.
Key Features
Real-time and historical price data — Tracks prices, charts, and historical data for tens of thousands of cryptocurrencies and tokens.
Market capitalization and volume rankings — Ranks assets by market capitalization and trading volume across thousands of exchanges.
Portfolio and watchlist tracking — Lets users track their own holdings and watch specific assets over time.
DexScan decentralized exchange data — Covers on-chain, decentralized exchange market data across 70-plus blockchain networks.
NFT collection tracking — Tracks pricing and activity data for NFT collections.
Fear and Greed Index — A sentiment indicator summarizing overall market mood based on multiple data inputs.
CMC Academy — Educational content covering blockchain and cryptocurrency fundamentals.
Tiered developer Crypto API — Programmatic access to market data with free keyless endpoints, pay-per-request access, and paid subscription tiers.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Extremely broad coverage of cryptocurrencies, tokens, and exchanges
Long-established brand recognized and cited widely since 2013
Free tier covers most casual investor use cases
DexScan extends coverage into decentralized and on-chain markets
States it operates with editorial independence despite Binance ownership
Flexible API access options including free keyless endpoints
Cons
Ownership by Binance raises independence questions for some users, even if operationally separate
Paid API tiers can be expensive for high-volume commercial use, with the Professional tier priced over 8,000 dollars per month at list price
Data quality and self-reported metrics from smaller exchanges can vary
Rankings have historically drawn scrutiny over trading-volume reporting methodology across the industry
Does not execute trades or custody assets itself, so users must still use a separate exchange
Company size and internal operations are not transparently disclosed
Pricing
Hobbyist 29 USD per month annual
Startup 79 USD per month annual
Standard 3,588 USD per month monthly
Professional 699 USD per month annual
Enterprise Custom custom
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns CoinMarketCap?
CoinMarketCap has been owned by Binance Holdings Limited since Binance acquired it in March 2020, though both companies state it operates as an editorially independent business.
Is CoinMarketCap free to use?
Yes, the core website and app are free for tracking prices, market caps, and portfolios; a paid tiered API is available for developers who need programmatic access.
How much does the CoinMarketCap API cost?
Paid API tiers range from about 29 dollars per month (Hobbyist, billed annually) up to 699 dollars per month (Professional, billed annually), with custom Basic and Enterprise pricing available.
When was CoinMarketCap founded?
CoinMarketCap was founded in May 2013 by Brandon Chez in Long Island City, Queens, New York.
Is CoinMarketCap the same company as Binance?
No. Binance acquired CoinMarketCap in 2020, but the two companies state CoinMarketCap operates as an editorially independent business separate from Binance's exchange operations.
What is DexScan on CoinMarketCap?
DexScan is CoinMarketCap's tool for tracking decentralized exchange market data across more than 70 blockchain networks.
Can I trade cryptocurrency directly on CoinMarketCap?
No, CoinMarketCap is a data and reference platform; it does not custody funds or execute trades itself.
How accurate is CoinMarketCap's market data?
CoinMarketCap aggregates data from thousands of exchanges and is widely cited by media and researchers, though volume and liquidity metrics from smaller or less regulated exchanges can vary in reliability.