- For experiments with new features (e.g. PoS in PPC, NMC DNS system, Datacoin storage).
- To improve liquidity of cryptocurrencies.
- To experiment with new hash algorithms and security concepts (Tenebrix, Primecoin...).
- To expermient with new economic paradigms (e.g. demurrage in FRC, ultra-high PoS-minting rates like NVC, automatic stability mechanism in eMunie, constant low inflation in PPC ...).
- To detect security risks (see the 51%-attacks performed on some altcoins)
- As a hedge against Bitcoin volatility
- Monopolies are never good
- To make some altcoin early adopters rich
And finally:
- So Bitcoin early adopters don't become too rich
A hedge against bitcoin volatility isn't possible because alt coin's prices are pretty much pegged with bitcoin. Although i agree that they can act as a live simulation for various concerns.
You may want to add to your list the experiment about what happens when all the coins are mined. Some alt coins are almost mined completely already.
Now we're getting somewhere. Thanks guys
