Altcoin is a collective term used to refer to any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin. It is an abbreviation for the term "alternative coin".
Concept and origin of altcoins
Bitcoin was the first successful blockchain-based cryptocurrency. After the success of Bitcoin, developers began to create new digital currencies by adding new features to its core protocol or fixing some of its flaws. Early altcoins were basically a slightly modified version of Bitcoin's code, known as a fork. The main goals of altcoins are to complete transactions faster (e.g. Solana), ensure greater privacy in transactions (e.g. Monero, Zcash), provide the ability to run complex programs or applications on the blockchain (e.g. Ethereum).
Types of Altcoins
Smart contract platform coins do not just act as a medium of exchange like Bitcoin, but also provide a foundation for developers to build decentralized applications (dApps). Examples: Ethereum (ETH), Solana, Cardano, Polkadot. Stablecoins usually have their value tied to a stable asset (such as the US dollar or gold).
They reduce volatility in the crypto market and act as a reliable medium for transactions. Examples: USD Coin (USDC), Tether (USDT). Utility tokens provide the user with special services or access within a specific blockchain or decentralized application (dApp). Examples: Tokens used for file storage services or tokens used to pay fees on a decentralized exchange (DEX). Privacy coins use advanced cryptographic techniques (such as zero-knowledge proofs) that keep the sender, recipient, and amount of a transaction private. Examples: Monero (XMR), Zcash (ZEC). Meme coins are created primarily as a result of online humor or internet culture and usually have no serious technical basis or practical utility. Their value is largely based on social media hype and community support. Examples: Dogecoin (DOGE), Shiba Inu (SHIB).