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.
Major altcoins are rallying too: Solana (SOL) touched $262.93, surpassing its 2021 peak. Nina Bambysheva, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024 Despite that, the market is also made up of numerous altcoins that symbolize different blockchain advancements, protocols, and uses - ranging from smart contract platforms to decentralized applications, each with unique technological approaches and market behaviors. Roomy Khan, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024 Bitcoin went down 60 percent—but the other altcoins went down much farther than that. Gian M. Volpicelli, WIRED, 17 June 2022 The overall crypto market followed suit, with altcoins including Solana (SOL), Dogecoin, and Cardano gaining 8.5%, 4.9%, and 5.9%, respectively, over the past week. Vinamrata Chaturvedi, Quartz, 23 Sep. 2024 The crypto market is extremely volatile, with prices swinging wildly in short periods, i.e., in the past 3 months alone, Bitcoin is down 17.99%, and Ethereum is down 36%, while altcoins are down even more dramatically in 2024. Roomy Khan, Forbes, 18 Sep. 2024 Although there’s talk of issuing products based on large-cap altcoins like Solana Solana +3%, the law of diminishing returns will inevitably kick in as the focus moves toward assets of decreasing liquidity. Nimrod Lehavi, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2024 Gaining Institutional Trust Solana's price increase in the altcoin market also proves there's a shift among investors. Tyler Shepherd, The Courier-Journal, 12 June 2024 Select from over 20 payment options, find your favorite altcoins, and get a welcome package of up to $6,000 + 100 free spins. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024

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

Dictionary Entries Near altcoin

Cite this Entry

“Altcoin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/altcoin. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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