May 18, 2022

Altcoin

What is an altcoin?

The term is usually used to refer to all cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin. However, some believe it encompasses all cryptocurrencies apart from Bitcoin and Ethereum since most coins are forks of, that is, originate from, one or the other. Most altcoins are created to have different characteristics from bitcoin and Ethereum; they usually aim to patch some perceived issues or fix the limitations that people believe the two cryptocurrencies have.

Altcoin - Coins representing Bitcoing, Ethereum, and Ripple
Photo by Worldspectrum

Understanding altcoins

The term derives from “alternative coins.” Most cryptocurrencies are forks of either bitcoin or Ethereum. They are created because a group of people do not agree with the existing blockchain and want to create a new cryptocurrency that has different characteristics from the existing ones. However, that is not to say this is the only reason for creating a new coin: Dogecoin, for instance, a cryptocurrency that refers to the popular meme with the famous Shiba Inu, was initially made as a joke but took off.

There are various types of altcoins, including meme coins, governance tokens, payment tokens, security tokens, stablecoins, and utility tokens.

« Back to Glossary Index

Disclaimer

In line with the Trust Project guidelines, please note that the information provided on this page is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of advice. It is important to only invest what you can afford to lose and to seek independent financial advice if you have any doubts. For further information, we suggest referring to the terms and conditions as well as the help and support pages provided by the issuer or advertiser. MetaversePost is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice.

About The Author

Damir is the team leader, product manager, and editor at Metaverse Post, covering topics such as AI/ML, AGI, LLMs, Metaverse, and Web3-related fields. His articles attract a massive audience of over a million users every month. He appears to be an expert with 10 years of experience in SEO and digital marketing. Damir has been mentioned in Mashable, Wired, Cointelegraph, The New Yorker, Inside.com, Entrepreneur, BeInCrypto, and other publications. He travels between the UAE, Turkey, Russia, and the CIS as a digital nomad. Damir earned a bachelor's degree in physics, which he believes has given him the critical thinking skills needed to be successful in the ever-changing landscape of the internet. 

More articles
Damir Yalalov
Damir Yalalov

Damir is the team leader, product manager, and editor at Metaverse Post, covering topics such as AI/ML, AGI, LLMs, Metaverse, and Web3-related fields. His articles attract a massive audience of over a million users every month. He appears to be an expert with 10 years of experience in SEO and digital marketing. Damir has been mentioned in Mashable, Wired, Cointelegraph, The New Yorker, Inside.com, Entrepreneur, BeInCrypto, and other publications. He travels between the UAE, Turkey, Russia, and the CIS as a digital nomad. Damir earned a bachelor's degree in physics, which he believes has given him the critical thinking skills needed to be successful in the ever-changing landscape of the internet. 

Hot Stories
Join Our Newsletter.
Latest News

Is Europe’s Banking System Ready For Stablecoins? I Went To Barcelona To Find Out

At EBC Barcelona, banks said euro stablecoins await custody and capital rules — while payment firms and ...

Know More

Shufti, Jumio, Sumsub, And Beyond: Top 6 Identity Verification And Compliance Platforms To Know In 2026

Shufti, Sumsub, Incode, Veriff, Persona and Jumio compared on compliance lifecycle coverage, pricing transparency and fraud detection ...

Know More
Read More
Read more
Bitget Launches Open Custody Network, Giving Institutions Choice In Custody and Access To Markets
News Report Technology
Bitget Launches Open Custody Network, Giving Institutions Choice In Custody and Access To Markets
October 16, 2026
MEXC Releases October 2026 Proof of Reserves, Reinforcing User Trust Through Verifiable Transparency
Stories and Reviews
MEXC Releases October 2026 Proof of Reserves, Reinforcing User Trust Through Verifiable Transparency
October 16, 2026
MEXC AI Trading Report Reveals 85% Of Crypto Traders Use AI, But Most Limit Its Control Over Funds
Stories and Reviews
MEXC AI Trading Report Reveals 85% Of Crypto Traders Use AI, But Most Limit Its Control Over Funds
October 16, 2026
Gate Update: Gate Money Strategy, Stock-Futures Gains and Stablecoin Push Define Exchange’s Week
Digest News Report Technology
Gate Update: Gate Money Strategy, Stock-Futures Gains and Stablecoin Push Define Exchange’s Week
October 16, 2026