Altcoin
Any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin.
What is Altcoin?
An altcoin (alternative coin) is any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin. The term emerged because Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency and all subsequent digital currencies were considered alternatives to it. Altcoins range from large-cap projects like Ethereum and Solana — which have distinct technological features such as smart contracts — to thousands of smaller tokens with varying degrees of utility and speculation. Some altcoins seek to improve on Bitcoin's speed, privacy, or programmability; others represent entirely different use cases such as decentralized finance, non-fungible tokens, or governance systems.
Example
Ethereum (ETH) is the most widely adopted altcoin. Unlike Bitcoin, which functions primarily as a store of value, Ethereum's blockchain supports smart contracts and decentralized applications, giving ETH a utility-driven demand beyond speculation. As of early 2024, Ethereum represented roughly 17% of the total cryptocurrency market capitalization.