Any cryptocurrency that was launched prior to Bitcoin (BTC) is referred to as an "altcoin."The open-source Bitcoin code was forked by developers to create new currencies in its early stages.With distinct supply schedules and privacy features, these Bitcoin alternatives began to deviate further from their predecessor over time.Zcash (ZEC) and Litecoin (LTC) are two examples.In addition to altcoins, there were a plethora of Bitcoin–altcoin trading pairs that sparked an uptick in market activity. Traders took advantage of the crypto assets' volatility for high-risk rewards.
As a wider range of application scenarios for the technology have become possible, the rise of altcoins and their respective blockchain networks marks an era of experimentation and maturation in the cryptocurrency industry.