Check Cryptocurrency Prices from the Command Line

Introduction

Monitoring cryptocurrency prices is essential for investors and tech enthusiasts alike. While there are numerous GUI-based tools available, command-line utilities offer a fast, lightweight alternative. In this guide, we'll explore Coinmon—a terminal-based tool to track real-time crypto prices sourced from CoinMarketCap.

Why Use Coinmon?

• Minimalist: Focuses solely on price tracking.
• Real-time Data: Pulls live prices via CoinMarketCap’s API.
• Developer-Friendly: Ideal for scripting or integration with other tools.

Installation

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v10+) and npm (Node Package Manager).
  👉 Install Node.js

Steps

Run this command to install Coinmon globally:

sudo npm install -g coinmon

Usage Examples

1. View Top 10 Cryptocurrencies

coinmon

Output: Displays prices, market caps, and 24h changes for the top 10 coins.

2. Customize Rankings

To show the top 20 cryptocurrencies:

coinmon -t 20

3. Convert Prices to Other Currencies

Example: Convert prices to Euros (EUR):

coinmon -c eur

Supported Currencies: AUD, BRL, CAD, CHF, CNY, EUR, GBP, INR, JPY, etc.

4. Search by Coin Symbol

Check Bitcoin’s price:

coinmon -f btc

5. Humanized Market Caps

Enable/disable human-readable formats (e.g., "1.2B" vs "1,200,000,000"):

coinmon -H false

Advanced Options

View all flags:

coinmon -h

FAQ Section

Q1: Is Coinmon free to use?

A: Yes, it’s open-source and free for personal/commercial use.

Q2: How often does Coinmon update prices?

A: Prices refresh each time you run the command (real-time API calls).

Q3: Can I use Coinmon in scripts?

A: Absolutely! Pipe its output to other tools or parse it with jq.

Q4: Does Coinmon support altcoins?

A: Yes—search by symbols (e.g., ETH for Ethereum).

Conclusion

Coinmon simplifies crypto tracking for terminal users. Whether you’re a trader or developer, this tool delivers fast, accurate data without bloat.

👉 Explore more crypto tools

Looking for alternatives? Try cli-fyi for broader queries or cointop for interactive charts.

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