altcoin
Americannoun
Usage
What's the difference between altcoin, bitcoin, and cryptocurrency? See digital currency ( def. ).
Etymology
Origin of altcoin
First recorded in 2010–15; alt- 2 ( def. ) or alt(ernative) ( def. ) + coin ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Unless you do your research, it’s a dangerous game you’re playing in the altcoin market,” Stowell said.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 23, 2026
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies continued to gain momentum early Tuesday but popular altcoin XRP was the standout performer, surging 9%.
From Barron's • Jan. 6, 2026
Crypto watchers are following the path of solana, an altcoin named after a beach town in southern California that is poised to become the next breakout star of the crypto world.
From Salon • Jan. 8, 2025
SkyBridge has invested in bitcoin, ethereum , solana and altcoin algorand , and is also eyeing the structured credit market to drive 2023 returns after the firm's losses in 2022.
From Reuters • Jan. 16, 2023
In the end, both the Bitcoin camp and altcoin enthusiasts seemed to be happy to see SBF fall, with one CoinDesk editor opining, “In a real sense, Bankman-Fried never represented crypto.”
From Slate • Dec. 15, 2022
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
