Any cryptocurrency that isn't Bitcoin — there are thousands of them, each with different purposes and features.
Think of it like how every soft drink that isn't Coca-Cola gets called an 'alternative cola.'
Understanding altcoins helps you see that crypto is a whole ecosystem, not just Bitcoin, and each project solves different problems.
Watch out for obscure altcoins with no real team or use case — many are created just to cash in on hype and disappear quickly.
The first and most well-known cryptocurrency, created in 2009 as a digital form of money that works without banks or governments.
A cryptocurrency created as a joke or based on internet culture and memes, often with no serious technology or use case behind it.
The cryptocurrency of the Ethereum network — the second-largest crypto by value, used to pay for transactions and power apps on Ethereum.
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