What Is Altcoin?
Definition
An altcoin is any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin — including Ethereum, Solana, and every token created on CoinDevTools. The term comes from "alternative coin."
"Altcoin" originally meant any cryptocurrency that isn't Bitcoin. Today, it broadly refers to the thousands of tokens across all blockchains — from major projects like Ethereum and Solana to memecoins and community tokens.
- Layer 1 tokens — native currencies of their own blockchain (ETH, SOL, BNB)
- Layer 2 tokens — tokens on scaling solutions (Base uses ETH but has its own ecosystem)
- DeFi tokens — governance/utility tokens for DeFi protocols (UNI, RAY, AAVE)
- Memecoins — community-driven tokens often started as jokes (BONK, PEPE, SHIB)
- Utility tokens — tokens that provide access to a service or platform
- Governance tokens — tokens that give holders voting rights in a DAO
Every token you create on CoinDevTools is technically an altcoin. Whether it becomes a major DeFi protocol token or a community memecoin depends on your distribution strategy, utility design, and community building.
Related Terms
SPL Token
An SPL token is the standard fungible token format on the Solana blockchain, equivalent to ERC-20 on Ethereum.
ERC-20 Token
ERC-20 is the most widely used token standard on Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains, defining how fungible tokens are created and transferred.
Tokenomics
Tokenomics is the economic design of a cryptocurrency token — covering supply, distribution, utility, incentive mechanisms, and how these factors affect the token's value over time.
Market Cap (Market Capitalization)
Market cap is the total value of all tokens in circulation, calculated as token price multiplied by circulating supply. It's the primary metric for comparing token sizes.