The generally agreed-upon definition of an altcoin is any other cryptocurrency that is not Bitcoin - simple as that. In other words, all of the different cryptocurrencies (except for Bitcoin) that you can find on the market are going to be altcoins! Sure, the definition tends to change a bit with time, but the general idea remains the same - say, if you were to buy USD Coin on KuCoin or any other exchange, you would actually be buying.

Bitcoin is the cryptocurrency that started it all - the “flagship” of the cryptocurrency industry. It is undoubtedly the best-known crypto on the planet - even if you were to buy USDC, you probably know perfectly well what Bitcoin is! There are quite a few technical and even philosophical differences between Bitcoin and many of the altcoins located on the market, and naturally, they differ in terms of popularity and reputation, too.

Altcoins are the various different cryptocurrencies that you will find on the cryptocurrency market (except for Bitcoin). Each of these crypto coins are going to have their own, unique blockchain, and a specific, designated use. As opposed to that, tokens are crypto assets that belong to a specific blockchain, and can be used for crowdfunding and ICO launch-related projects. So, whenever you buy USD Coin with a credit card, you are actually purchasing an altcoin, and not a token.

No, they are definitely not the same! Each individual altcoin is going to have its own, specific features, benefits, and shortcomings, and will also be used in some very different scenarios. I mean, if you were to buy USD Coin (USDC), you'd probably do so with a very specific intent in mind - purchasing any other cryptocurrency, though, you'd probably have different intents and reasons.

There are many different aspects that make up a “good” or attention-worthy altcoin. Sure, you could look at things such as market cap or recent price fluctuations, but you should also remember to keep things such as the purpose of the cryptocurrency and its real-world application cases in mind, too! So, before you buy USD Coin on KuCoin or Binance (or any other exchange out there), make sure to do some proper research!

Frankly, the best way to buy USD Coin (USDC) or any other cryptocurrency (altcoin) is to find a reliable and reputable exchange, and then purchase the crypto of your choice. Now, the actual payment method is up to you, however, buying cryptocurrency with fiat money is usually the preferred way of going about it, since it makes the crypto acquisition process fast, simple, and straightforward.