Live currency & crypto rates, in plain English

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What are exchange rates, and why do they move?

An exchange rate is simply the price of one currency expressed in another currency. If the rate for EUR/USD is 1.10, that means one euro buys 1.10 US dollars. When you see "the dollar is getting stronger," it means one dollar now buys more of another currency than it did before.

Why rates are never still

Currencies are traded around the clock on the global foreign exchange market — the largest financial market in the world. Like any price, an exchange rate moves with supply and demand. A few of the forces behind that demand:

1. Interest rates. When a country's central bank raises rates, its currency often strengthens, because investors move money there to earn the higher return.
2. Inflation. High inflation eats away at a currency's purchasing power, so currencies with runaway inflation tend to weaken over time.
3. Economic growth and trade. A growing economy that exports a lot attracts buyers for its currency; big import bills do the opposite.
4. Stability and expectations. Traders buy currencies of politically stable countries in uncertain times, and every rate also reflects what the market expects to happen next.

Mid-market vs. the rate you actually get

The rates on this page are mid-market rates — the midpoint between what buyers and sellers agree on. Banks, airports, and money-transfer apps add a markup (the "spread"), so the rate you're offered is almost always slightly worse. Comparing the spread is how you find a fair deal.

What about crypto prices?

Cryptocurrencies work the same way — price is whatever buyers and sellers agree on — but there is no central bank or reference rate. Prices come from trading on exchanges, so they swing far more sharply than national currencies. Market capitalization (price × number of coins) is the usual way to rank how "big" a crypto is.

Want to know where these numbers come from? Read about our data sources and editorial approach on the About page.

Educational content only. Nothing on Money Moves is financial advice, and we don't recommend buying, selling, or holding any currency or cryptocurrency. Currency and crypto markets carry risk — always do your own research or speak to a qualified professional.