altcoin

noun

alt·​coin ˈȯlt-ˌkȯin How to pronounce altcoin (audio)
plural altcoins
: any of various cryptocurrencies that are regarded as alternatives to established cryptocurrencies and especially to Bitcoin
Since then, thousands of new altcoins … have been created and added into the crypto ecosystem. "Altcoin" refers to any type of cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin.Meghan DeMatteo
Ethereum's surge has triggered wider interest in the altcoin universe from retail investors with cash to burn …Postmedia Breaking News
… major cryptocurrency projects like Bitcoin and Ethereum, and smaller altcoinsbenzinga.com

Examples of altcoin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There’s a reason why Ether (ETH) is the OG altcoin, next only to bitcoin, in terms of market cap and popularity. Lawrence Wintermeyer, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025 When traders wanted access to a universe of altcoins that other exchanges ignored, Binance listed them. Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 23 July 2025 Year to date, however, ether and other major altcoins – with the exception of XRP – are still deep in the red compared to bitcoin. Tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 9 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

alt- + -coin (in bitcoin)

First Known Use

2011, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of altcoin was in 2011

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Cite this Entry

“Altcoin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/altcoin. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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