MAEXO

Altcoin

Glossary

Basics

Altcoin

Any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin.

Definition

In depth

Altcoin is shorthand for 'alternative coin' — any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin. The term covers everything from major Layer-1 chains (ETH, SOL, AVAX) to niche tokens. Altcoins typically carry more volatility and project-specific risk than Bitcoin.

Related

Related terms

Bitcoin (BTC)

The first and largest cryptocurrency, launched in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto.

Token

A digital asset issued on a host blockchain (e.g. ERC-20 on Ethereum).

Memecoin

A token driven by community and cultural momentum rather than utility.

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