Definition
An altcoin is any cryptocurrency that is not Bitcoin. It is a digital asset built on blockchain technology, created as an alternative to Bitcoin’s original design. Altcoins can have their own independent blockchains or operate on existing ones, and they typically define their own rules for issuance, supply, and on-chain behavior, separate from Bitcoin.
In Simple Terms
An altcoin is any crypto coin or token other than Bitcoin. It is another kind of digital money that runs on a blockchain, with its own name, rules, and features. When people say “altcoin,” they simply mean every cryptocurrency that is not Bitcoin.
Context and Usage
The term altcoin is commonly used in trading, market analysis, and general crypto discussions to group together the wide range of non-Bitcoin cryptocurrencies. It appears in price charts, market-cap rankings, and portfolio breakdowns as a broad category label. In many contexts, altcoins are discussed collectively rather than individually, as a way to distinguish them from Bitcoin in conversations about the overall crypto market.