What Are Alt Coins ?

Altcoins, short for "alternative coins," refer to all cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin. Since Bitcoin was the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, any coin that launched after it is considered an "altcoin." These altcoins often aim to improve on Bitcoin's perceived limitations or introduce new features and use cases, such as faster transaction times, lower fees, smart contract functionality, privacy features, or specific applications in decentralized finance (DeFi).

Some examples of well-known altcoins include:

Ethereum (ETH): Known for its smart contract platform, which allows developers to build decentralized applications (DApps).

Ripple (XRP): Aimed at enabling faster and cheaper cross-border payments.

Litecoin (LTC): Created to process transactions faster and with lower fees than Bitcoin.

Cardano (ADA): A blockchain platform focused on security, scalability, and sustainability.

Altcoins can vary greatly in their technology, purpose, and level of adoption. Some are used for specific applications like supply chain management, while others aim to improve existing blockchain technology.