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All glossary terms

Market basics · Glossary

Altcoin

Any crypto asset other than the most widely referenced one.

Definition and explanation

The term altcoin refers to a digital asset that is not the asset most commonly used as a reference in the market. Altcoins can vary widely in liquidity, volatility, structure and use, and thin altcoin markets may show larger spreads and more pronounced moves than larger, more liquid assets.

Example

A lower-liquidity altcoin may swing more in a single session than the more established reference asset.

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