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What is Altcoin?
An altcoin is any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin. The term covers thousands of coins including Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, and meme coins like Dogecoin.
Full Explanation
Altcoin (short for "alternative coin") refers to any cryptocurrency that is not Bitcoin. The term was coined early in crypto history when Bitcoin dominated the market. Altcoins include major projects like Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), as well as smaller tokens and meme coins. Altcoins often aim to improve upon Bitcoin's limitations — faster transactions, smart contracts, privacy features, or specific use cases.
Example
Ethereum, Solana, and Polygon are popular altcoins you can trade on CoinDCX. During "altcoin season," these coins often outperform Bitcoin.
Related Terms
Last updated: 2026-03-21
