What is an altcoin?
Everything that isn't Bitcoin, from Ethereum to coins launched yesterday.
An altcoin is any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin; the name is short for "alternative coin." Ethereum, XRP, Solana, stablecoins and memecoins are all altcoins. Some are large networks with real use; many thousands are small, short-lived or worthless.
The main kinds of altcoin
| Kind | What it's for | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Smart-contract platforms | Blockchains that run apps | Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, Sui |
| Payment coins | Moving money quickly | XRP, Stellar, Litecoin |
| Stablecoins | Holding a steady $1 value | USDT, USDC |
| App and governance tokens | Voting in or paying for a protocol | UNI, AAVE, LINK |
| Exchange coins | Perks on one company's platform | BNB |
| Privacy coins | Hiding payment details | Monero |
| Memecoins | Jokes and speculation | Dogecoin, Pepe |
Some people don't count stablecoins or Ethereum as "altcoins" in everyday talk, but technically anything that isn't bitcoin is one.
How many are there?
Price-tracking sites list well over 17,000 actively traded cryptocurrencies, and far more tokens exist that no one tracks. See how many cryptocurrencies are there? The top few dozen hold most of the total value.
What is "altcoin season"?
Traders use "altseason" for periods when altcoins rise much faster than bitcoin. It's a description of the past, not a forecast. The same coins usually fall faster than bitcoin when markets turn, and many from past cycles never recovered. How the Altcoin Season Index and Bitcoin dominance are measured: Bitcoin dominance and altcoin season.
An example of the risk
LUNA, the coin behind the TerraUSD stablecoin, was among the ten largest cryptocurrencies in early 2022. In May 2022 it collapsed to almost nothing within a week. A high ranking today says something about size, not about safety or where a coin is headed. Read market cap explained.
- Prices can swing far more than bitcoin's, in both directions.
- Thin trading means you may not be able to sell at the quoted price.
- Large holders, teams and investors often have tokens that unlock and get sold over time.
- Copycat tokens use the names of real projects; always check the contract address.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ethereum an altcoin?
Technically yes, because it isn't Bitcoin. It's the largest one.
Is XRP an altcoin?
Yes. Any cryptocurrency other than bitcoin is an altcoin.
Are altcoins riskier than Bitcoin?
Generally yes: they're smaller, more volatile and more likely to fail, though each one is different.
What's the difference between an altcoin and a token?
"Altcoin" means not Bitcoin. A token is a cryptocurrency built on another blockchain. Most tokens are altcoins, but not all altcoins are tokens.
Where to next
Sources
- CoinGecko: cryptocurrency prices by market cap
- What to know about cryptocurrency and scams (FTC)
- What is ether? (ethereum.org)
Written for beginners and checked against the sources listed. Last reviewed November 4, 2026. This page is educational and is not financial, tax or legal advice. How we write and check pages.