Altcoin

An altcoin, short for alternative coin, is any cryptocurrency other than bitcoin. The label covers everything from large smart-contract platform coins to small, thinly traded tokens launched last week, so it describes origin rather than quality. Some altcoins were created to change one part of Bitcoin's design, such as block time or supply schedule; others introduced entirely new capabilities like programmable contracts, privacy features or high-throughput settlement. Altcoins usually have smaller markets than bitcoin, which means wider spreads, thinner liquidity and sharper moves in both directions, and many also depend on a single development team or foundation. Being listed on an exchange is not a verdict on an altcoin's technology or its long-term viability.