So which altcoins performed the best last week? We’ve been so caught up with bitcoin’s rising price following its big headline in The Wall Street Journal and the third (and possibly final) US Marshals Service bitcoin auction, which saw to another 50,000 bitcoins once belonging to alleged Silk Road mastermind Ross Ulbricht being desired and ogled at by a bunch of crypto-enthusiasts waiting to place their bids.

Sometimes bitcoin just takes up so much time and space that we forget about the “little guys” on the side; guys like litecoin, darkcoin, dogecoin and other altcoins that operate through similar means.

But are they little? I suppose when compared to bitcoin they’re somewhat smaller, but these altcoins hold their own ground, and often see expansion and growth when no one expects it.

Last week saw to a few different altcoins leading the way in terms of performance. According to coinmarketcap.com, litecoin for example, is a true leader in the altcoin community. The litecoin price is close to two dollars, and the cryptocurrency boasts a market cap of over $71 million. Furthermore, litecoin witnessed a rise of about 1.36 percent last week, showing its doubters that its power remains true.

Another top performer was darkcoin. The altcoin’s fame and steady rise has been heavily monitored these last few weeks, and while it does not hold a market cap anywhere near the litecoin spectrum, the price of one darkcoin has risen to nearly $3.50. The digital currency saw a rise of nearly three percent in recent days, making it a force to be reckoned with.

Other currencies that witnessed strong increases this past week include MaidSafeCoin (7.36 percent), Bytecoin (7.45 percent), and one known as Ethercoin, which experienced a rise of over 42 percent and is nearing $1 in price. A few others: Vertcoin, Stealthcoin, Pandacoin, and Syscoin.

Whether bitcoin truly has some competition ahead remains to be seen, but one thing that can be said is the world of the altcoin is changing and growing, and digital currencies are earning attention like never before.