altcoin

American  

[awlt-koin] / ˈɔltˌkɔɪn /

noun

1. any cryptocurrency that is not bitcoin.

   These five altcoins will be worth watching for the next few months, as they've been steadily rising in value.

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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

The overall altcoin market saw sharp declines in the fourth quarter of 2025, as did bitcoin and ether, owing to a variety of factors.

From MarketWatch

Kline argues that O’Leary’s take on the altcoin market is too simplistic, saying that while some altcoins are indeed “lower quality,” others hold true promise in terms of their utility value — meaning in their use for different types of financial transactions.

From MarketWatch

“Unless you do your research, it’s a dangerous game you’re playing in the altcoin market,” Stowell said.

From MarketWatch

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies continued to gain momentum early Tuesday but popular altcoin XRP was the standout performer, surging 9%.

From Barron's

Ethereum, the second largest crypto, fell 3.4% to $3,202, while popular altcoin XRP, used to facilitate and settle transactions on the Ripple payment platform, slipped 2.6% to $2.02.

From Barron's