What is a coin or altcoin

In cryptocurrency world, alternative cryptocurrency coins, also called altcoins or simply coins are an alternative cryptocurrency to bitcoin. Bitcoin is the first cryptocurrency that was introduced to market. All other coins after that are known as altcoins or simply coins.

Cryptocurrency has two categories – Tokens and Coins.

Coins can also be categories into two groups – Bitcoin derived and native. All blockchains that are derived from original bitcoin are bitcoin derived. Rest of the blockchains are native blockchains.

Some of the Bitcoin derived coins are Litecoin, Dodgecoin, namecoin, and peercoin.

Examples of coins that are based native blockchain are Ethereum, Ripple, Omni, NXT, and Wave.