I have considered alternate cryptocurrencies to be mostly a waste of time and energy. Sure, there may be some new innovation here and there, but if it becomes a true problem, then that innovation could be added to Bitcoin. Also, I have felt that alternate cryptos might have a small market for special needs, like total anonymity. Regardless, I have felt that the altcoin market should be only about 1-5% of the Bitcoin market.

But alternative cryptocurrencies have two major functions that are actually helping out Bitcoin.

1) As an internet meme, peope are learning more about cryptocurrencies in general. The small value of most of these coins allows people to play with full integers of them without fear of losing any significant money. Consider them to be educational.

2) As a message to governments. When governments see how easy these altcoins are to start, it will help show the futility of trying to get rid of Bitcoin.

It is for this reason that I have spent about $20 on a bunch of random altcoins. Eventually, most of these altcoins will die and take that money with them. In the meantime, I consider that money & time spent to be good advertising for cryptocurrencies in general. Eventually, it will benefit Bitcoin.

I hope that some of you reading this will consider spending a few dollars on some altcoins. Not to make money (expect to lose most of it), but to support cryptocurrencies in general.