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The top 100+ altcoins you should know about

Find a list of the most popular cryptocurrencies, and get in-depth coin guides to compare coins.

The name “altcoin” is used to describe any peer-to-peer cryptocurrency that is not bitcoin. After bitcoin became the first, successful digital currency, many other alternatives followed in its wake, hoping to capitalise on its success. As a result, these currencies gained the moniker “altcoin”, an abbreviation of “alternative coin”.

Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of cryptocurrency or any specific provider, service or offering. It is not a recommendation to trade.

The A-Z of altcoins

Read more about some of the most popular altcoins in one of our comprehensive guides below.

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Much more than bitcoin replicas

Altcoins began life as little more than bitcoin copies attempting to mimic bitcoin’s successful run, but they quickly became much more than their name suggests. At the time of writing (September 2017), there are more than 1,500 altcoins available for use. While many are still struggling to break the mould set by bitcoin, some are doing truly amazing things with the technology.

From rethinking the entire concept of what the blockchain could and should be used for (Ethereum) to building a purely anonymous and secure network for peer-to-peer transactions (Monero), more and more altcoins are addressing the shortcomings of bitcoin every day, innovating on its basic driving technology to become market leaders themselves.

The blockchain

The blockchain is the underlying technology that drives all altcoins and the best way to visualise the blockchain is to think of it as a digital ledger. Let’s imagine a paper ledger into which cash transactions are entered. Mary would like to pay Jason US$100. She meets Jason at a cafe along with Terry, the person in charge of maintaining the ledger. Mary gives the US$100 bill to Jason, Jason puts it in his pocket, and Terry notes down the transaction: Mary to Jason US$100.

The blockchain is like a collection of pages on that ledger. Each “page” is called a block and contains multiple transactions. Whenever a block is filled up and a new transaction comes in, that transaction creates a new block with a link to the previous block. This new block is then appended to the blockchain. Once a transaction is written into the block, it becomes immutable: it cannot be edited or deleted.

The best part of the blockchain is that all the users on the blockchain receive a copy of this ledger. They can update their own ledger, and then pass it on. This way, all users can confirm that Mary gave US$100 to Jason, and Jason can’t say he didn’t receive the money.

Read more about blockchain technology in our handy guide.

Initial Coin Offering (ICO)

Similar, even in name, to an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in which a private company’s stock first becomes public, an ICO happens when a cryptocurrency startup wants to raise funding in order to further the development of their coin. The startup releases some of their coins (often referred to as “tokens”) to investors, who purchase these tokens in the hope that the project succeeds and those coins gain value. If the predefined minimum funding is not reached, the money invested is returned to the investors.

ICOs, unlike IPOs, are unregulated and so great care should be taken before participating in one to make sure that it is not, in fact, a scam.
Find out more about ICOs and how to spot a scam.

The future of altcoins

Altcoins are the new kid on the block and they are as unpredictable as they are exciting. With the biggest altcoins vying to take the top spot from bitcoin, they are all attempting to carve their own niches, with goals nothing short of reimagining the way we do business, how we send and receive money, and how we transfer assets like properties and cars.

Disclaimer: Cryptocurrencies are speculative, complex and involve significant risks – they are highly volatile and sensitive to secondary activity. Performance is unpredictable and past performance is no guarantee of future performance. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before relying on this information. You should also verify the nature of any product or service (including its legal status and relevant regulatory requirements) and consult the relevant Regulators' websites before making any decision. Finder, or the author, may have holdings in the cryptocurrencies discussed.

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