An altcoin is any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin. The term comes from 'alternative coin.' Altcoins include Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, Ripple (XRP), and thousands of others. Altcoins are generally more volatile than Bitcoin and carry higher risk. During crypto bull markets, altcoins often outperform Bitcoin ('alt season'); during crashes, they typically fall harder.
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Market Navigator Glossary — plain-English definitions of 93+ investing and crypto terms. All content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.