Bitcoin, Altcoins, and Memecoins
Understanding the Basics
When people first hear about crypto, the names they hear most often are Bitcoin, Altcoins, and Memecoins.
They sound complicated, but they’re really just three layers of the same story: where crypto started, how it evolved, and how it went viral.
Let’s break them down simply.
1. Bitcoin – The OG and the King
Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency, launched in 2009 by someone (or a group) using the name Satoshi Nakamoto.
It was created to solve one key problem: the need for trustless, permissionless money that anyone can transfer or hold without relying on a bank or government. It also turned out to solve another big problem — traditional money that keeps losing value as governments print more of it over time.
Bitcoin flipped that.
It’s decentralized (no single authority controls it) and scarce, with only 21 million coins that will ever exist.
That limited supply, combined with its security, makes it an excellent store of value, often compared to digital gold.
To put its rise into perspective:
In 2010, 1 Bitcoin was worth about $0.003
On the day of writing this article, it is values over a US$110,000
That growth is bigger than almost any other asset in modern history, far beyond gold, stocks, or real estate.
Bitcoin is where it all began, and it’s still the foundation of the entire crypto ecosystem.
2. Altcoins – The Builders and Problem Solvers
Any coins or tokens other than Bitcoin are Altcoins, short for alternative coins.
These were created to solve new problems or add new functions that Bitcoin wasn’t designed for. In simple terms, they bring utility — they actually do things.
A few examples:
Ethereum (ETH):
Bitcoin can send money, but Ethereum can run programs.
It introduced smart contracts, which are bits of code that run automatically on the blockchain.
This made NFTs, DeFi, and thousands of decentralized apps possible.Solana (SOL):
Ethereum is powerful but can get expensive and slow when the network is busy.
Solana solves that with speed and low cost, allowing developers to build apps that are fast and cheap to use.Helium (HNT):
Helium uses blockchain to build a decentralized wireless network.
Instead of big telecom companies, regular people run small devices called hotspots that power the network and earn tokens in return.
It’s a simple example of how crypto can create real-world systems owned by the community.
Altcoins are where innovation happens.
They’re building the use cases that could shape the future of the internet, but they also come with higher risks and more volatility than Bitcoin.
3. Memecoins – The Wildcards of Crypto
Then there’s the loud, colorful corner of crypto: Memecoins.
They started as jokes but turned into something much bigger because of community energy and culture.
It began with Dogecoin in 2013, inspired by the famous Shiba Inu “Doge” meme.
It had no serious purpose at first, until people online (and Elon Musk) turned it into a phenomenon.
Memecoins don’t have much hard-coded utility like Ethereum or Solana.
Instead, their “utility” comes from two real forces:
Community – passionate online groups that create memes, culture, and visibility
Hope – the get rich quick energy in an economy where currencies lose value and opportunities feel scarce
Since Dogecoin, many have followed: Shiba Inu (SHIB), PEPE, BONK, FLOKI, and countless others.
Some rose thousands of percent in days, others disappeared just as fast.
Memecoins are fun to watch but dangerous to hold.
For beginners, they’re best seen as entertainment, not investments.
Final Thoughts
If Bitcoin is digital gold,
Altcoins are the builders creating new applications and systems,
and Memecoins are the lottery tickets of the internet driven by memes and dreams.
Each has its place, but as a beginner, focus on learning what each coin actually does.
You can explore and research projects easily using tools like CoinMarketCap or CoinGecko — they show rankings, price history, and key details for every token in the market.
Start with Bitcoin. Learn the basics. Watch the rest from a safe distance.
Crypto rewards curiosity, not rush.
Not financial advice.