what is an altcoin??

[abdillahzidan]

Even if they do not accurately understand how it works, most people are at least somewhat familiar with Bitcoin. However, once they begin to get involved with cryptocurrency, they may be surprised to learn that there are actually hundreds of types of cryptocurrencies known as altcoins. Altcoins are an intriguing facet of the cryptocurrency landscape, but they are not for everyone. Altcoin newcomers often have many questions, and this guide will provide a brief overview of altcoins to help beginners decide whether or not to invest in them as part of their cryptocurrency portfolio.

[Cootie]

As the name suggests, alt coin, also known as alternate coin or alternative coin, is any other type of cryptocurrency besides bitcoin. It's purpose is to become a substitute to bitcoin if it encounters a complicated problem. If you take a closer look, you can conclude that alt coins are competitors of bitcoin in terms of supporters and users. But they don't really compete, they have their own allocation of stocks in blocks of data given the each. It has also the same function as the bitcoin has, to be used in transacting online.

[SpearTackle]

Alt coin is an abbreviation for alternative coins, and there are lots of cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin so alt coins is an alternative to Bitcoins. Although Bitcoins are most popular and has more users, especially most expensive from other coins or currency. Bitcoins and alt coins is said to be work similarly, but alt coins can differ from Bitcoin in some range ways. When it comes to investing and mining, Bitcoin are hard to mine rather than other alt coins, because it is expensive. Investing in Bitcoins is riskier rather than investing in alt coin.

[KluFf]

Alternative coin for bitcoin.
many kinds of Altcoin is existing in the crypto world.
different in prices. still they base on BTC.

but they are not for everyone.

so many Altcoin exists but you can't use them all at the same time.

[Nicol3]

It's meaning is simple if you know what Bitcoin is, an alternative coin for Bitcoin are called Altcoins. I don't think there is a need to further explain what an altcoin is if you already know what bitcoin is and what is its purpose and there is always Google to help us out if there are times we really don't understand the definition of some terms.

[Zadicar]

Even if they do not accurately understand how it works, most people are at least somewhat familiar with Bitcoin. However, once they begin to get involved with cryptocurrency, they may be surprised to learn that there are actually hundreds of types of cryptocurrencies known as altcoins. Altcoins are an intriguing facet of the cryptocurrency landscape, but they are not for everyone. Altcoin newcomers often have many questions, and this guide will provide a brief overview of altcoins to help beginners decide whether or not to invest in them as part of their cryptocurrency portfolio.

The thing you said here is just a definition on those terms we do encounter here on cryptoworld.Even myself when i was still a newbie, i do thought that Bitcoin is the only who do exist on this field and later on when i do gain knowledge i did already faced or known lots of coins which somehow confuse you when you are not having any idea of it.This is why i do make self study and later on i got used to it and already engaging on it.From the word altcoin, alt means alternative and all coins being created besides bitcoin is considered as alt.

[dealung]

Yes .. altcoin = alternative coin, it's the same as other options besides the main choice. You are right, there are indeed many altcoins available today. But a good project, a team that is always active and serious with its projects only a little. If you want to buy altcoin or join in ico, then you must do research so that you are not wrong in investing.

[yohan09]

Alt-coins is an abbreviation of alternative coins signifies currency,Thus together they imply a category of cryptocurrency that is alternative to digital currency bitcoin. After the success story of bitcoin many other peer to peer digital currencies have emerged in an attempt to imitate that success.

[qwizzie]

With regards to price, volume and marketcap of Bitcoin and Altcoins (including links to their own specific homepage)  : https://coinmarketcap.com/
For newbees i suggest taking the time to study the top 15 ranking of the altcoins to understand what they are trying to accomplish.....  

[omonuyak]

Altcoins is an alternative cryptocurrency, that is bitcoin alternative. Like you have rightly said many people did not know about altcoins but we are all familiar with the bitcoin but few people know about altcoins. Many altcoins are doing very well now and been an altcoins most of them are less in price than bitcoin.

[leslie4u]

Well alt coins like everyone said is another name for alternative coins in comparison to BTC or Bitcoin. I agree that there are 1000 of alt coins in there, some are POS, some POW and some Hybrid. Once definitely needs to be careful before investing in alt coins. I must agree that almost each day a new coin is released, some of them have clear vision and some of them just circle around.

If in doubt, it is always better to ask. We have a wonderful community here and someone or the other will certainly help.

[geac.xraekhurcoe]

It is an alternative currency, so it is a relative word, it is an alternative to something, on a bitcoin forum like bitcointalk everything is alternative to Bitcoin, on a money website like forbes Bitcoin is an alternative to fiat money, on an XYZ coin forum Bitcoin, fiat and other are alternatives. So yes, it is an alternative to something and to what it is alternative may be implicit in the context of where you are reading the term from.