Internet
altcoin
What does altcoin mean?
A blanket term for 'alternative coins' — every cryptocurrency that isn't Bitcoin, from Ethereum to the smallest memecoin.
"I keep most of my portfolio in BTC and only a small slice in altcoins."
Origin
Coined by Bitcoin-focused communities around 2013-2014 to distinguish BTC from everything else.
Frequently asked questions
What is an altcoin?
An altcoin is any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin, short for 'alternative coin', covering everything from Ethereum to small memecoins.
Is Ethereum an altcoin?
Technically yes, since 'altcoin' means any coin that isn't Bitcoin, though many people treat Ethereum as its own major category.
What is 'altseason'?
Altseason refers to periods when altcoins outperform Bitcoin, with money rotating out of BTC into smaller coins.
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