Recently, I frequently see newcomers holding charts of unknown coins in various discussions asking for investment advice. This situation actually reflects a common phenomenon—many participants have not truly understood the fundamental difference between mainstream coins and altcoins. In fact, these two asset classes differ significantly across multiple dimensions. Understanding these differences can help you avoid most market traps.

**Differences in Consensus and Underlying Support**

The reason why mainstream coins can maintain their market position ultimately lies in their solid technological foundation and broad market consensus. Taking leading coins as an example, they are either industry pioneers or have built a mature ecosystem of applications. These assets are recognized by tens of thousands of institutions and individuals worldwide, with highly liquid markets—meaning that even during short-term downward pressure, market participants can relatively easily complete transactions. Historical data shows that mainstream coins often recover or even appreciate after a 10% decline through patient holding.

In contrast, the underlying logic of altcoins is often vague, and market consensus is difficult to form. This directly leads to liquidity risk—when you want to sell, you may not find enough buyers, falling into a situation of "visible prices but unexecuted trades." This risk is more easily masked in a bull market, but once market sentiment shifts, the problems become exposed.

**The Gap Between Liquidity and Trading Depth**

The trading depth of mainstream coins comes from continuous trading across multiple global platforms, where large single orders do not easily shake the price. Altcoins, on the other hand, are often listed on only a few platforms with highly concentrated trading volume, making them susceptible to market manipulation by large holders. This results in a phenomenon: the candlestick charts of altcoins look highly volatile, but this is often a false prosperity caused by poor liquidity.

**Objective Differences in Risk Tolerance**

Investors in mainstream coins are numerous, including institutional investors, large holders, and retail investors, whose diversified participation naturally disperses risk. In contrast, the holder structure of altcoins is often highly concentrated; once key holders decide to exit, prices can plummet sharply. This is not just risk but a structural inevitability.

In summary, the core difference between mainstream coins and altcoins lies in "market depth" and "basis of consensus." Once you understand this, you can evaluate various investment opportunities with a more rational perspective.