Unlock the language of blockchain, crypto, and Web3 with clear definitions.
51% Attack
When a miner or group controls more than 50% of network hashpower, allowing double spends.
Address
Unique identifier for a wallet on a blockchain.
Airdrop
Free distribution of tokens to wallet holders.
Algorithm
Defined instructions to solve a problem or process data.
Altcoin
Any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin.
AMM (Automated Market Maker)
DEX protocol using liquidity pools.
AML (Anti-Money Laundering)
Regulatory and compliance processes to prevent illicit funds from entering the financial system.
API (Application Programming Interface)
Interface for software to interact with blockchain services.
Arbitrage
Buying and selling an asset across markets to profit from price differences.
Atomic Swap
Direct exchange of cryptocurrencies without intermediaries.
Authentication
Verifying identity of a user or node.
Avalanche
High-performance Layer 1 blockchain with fast consensus.
Aave
DeFi lending protocol.
Alpha
Measure of performance beyond benchmark.
Arweave
Permanent decentralized storage.
Bagholder
Investor holding depreciated assets expecting recovery.
Bear Market
Market trend with falling prices.
Block
Bundle of transactions recorded on blockchain.
Blockchain
Distributed ledger of transactions across nodes.
Block Reward
Incentive for mining or validating a block.
Bridge
Protocol connecting different blockchains.
Burn
Permanent removal of tokens from circulation.
Bull Market
Market trend with rising prices.
Bytecode
Low-level code executed by a virtual machine.
Balancer
AMM and liquidity protocol.
BEP-20
Binance Smart Chain token standard.
Biconomy
Multi-chain transaction relayer.
BSC
Binance Smart Chain.
Candlestick
Trading chart showing open, high, low, close prices.
Centralized Exchange (CEX)
Exchange controlled by an authority.
Cold Wallet / Cold Storage
Offline wallet for secure storage.
Coin
Cryptocurrency on its own blockchain.
Consensus Mechanism
Rules to agree on blockchain state (PoW, PoS, etc.).
Contract Address
Address for a smart contract.
Cryptography
Securing communication with algorithms.
Crypto Wallet
Software/hardware to store keys and transact crypto.
Custodial Wallet
Wallet where a third party holds private keys.
CEX Aggregator
Platform combining multiple centralized exchanges.
Cross-Chain
Functionality connecting different blockchains.
Chainlink
Decentralized oracle network.
Compound
DeFi lending protocol.
Cosmos
Interoperable blockchain network.
Curve
Stablecoin-focused AMM.
DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization)
Organization run by smart contracts.
DApp (Decentralized Application)
Blockchain application.
DeFi (Decentralized Finance)
Financial services without intermediaries.
DEX (Decentralized Exchange)
Peer-to-peer crypto trading platform.
Difficulty
Mining complexity measure.
Distributed Ledger
Ledger shared across multiple nodes.
Double Spend
Spending same crypto twice.
Dust
Tiny crypto amount, often uneconomical to transfer.
Derivative
Financial instrument based on underlying asset.
Divergence
Indicator moving opposite price, used in analysis.
dApp Browser
Mobile app browser supporting DApps.
dYdX
Decentralized derivatives exchange.
ERC-20
Ethereum standard for fungible tokens.
ERC-721
Ethereum standard for NFTs.
Exchange
Platform to trade cryptocurrencies.
Ethereum
Blockchain platform for smart contracts.
Escrow
Holding funds until contract conditions met.
ETP (Exchange-Traded Product)
Product tracking an underlying asset.
ENS (Ethereum Name Service)
Human-readable wallet addresses.
Faucet
Platform giving free small crypto amounts.
Fiat
Government-issued currency.
Flash Loan
Loan borrowed and repaid in one blockchain transaction.
Fork
Blockchain split due to updates or disputes.
FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt)
Negative info to manipulate markets.
Full Node
Node storing entire blockchain and validating transactions.
Futures
Contracts to buy/sell asset at future date.
Front-Running
Trading based on knowledge of pending orders.
Fantom
EVM-compatible Layer 1 chain.
Frax
Algorithmic stablecoin.
Furucombo
DeFi automation tool.
Gas Fee
Transaction cost on Ethereum or similar chains.
Genesis Block
First block in a blockchain.
Governance Token
Token granting voting rights.
GPU Mining
Mining with graphics cards.
Granularity
Level of transaction/ledger detail.
Gemini Dollar (GUSD)
US-backed stablecoin.
Halving
Reduction of block rewards (e.g., Bitcoin).
Hard Cap
Max fundraising limit.
Hard Fork
Non-backward-compatible upgrade.
Hash / Hash Function
Converts data to fixed-size output.
Hashrate
Total mining computational power.
HODL
Long-term holding of assets.
Hot Wallet
Online wallet.
Hybrid Blockchain
Combination of public and private blockchains.
ICO (Initial Coin Offering)
Token fundraising event.
Immutable
Data cannot be altered.
Inflation
Token supply increase, reducing value per token.
Interoperability
Ability for blockchains to communicate.
Investment Token
Token primarily for investment.
Immutable X
Layer 2 scaling for NFTs.
JSON-RPC
Protocol to interact with Ethereum nodes.
Jackpot
Sudden profit from trading or mining.
Keystore
File storing encrypted private keys.
KYC (Know Your Customer)
Identity verification.
Key Pair
Public/private key combination for crypto.
Kava
Cross-chain DeFi platform.
Kyber Network
On-chain liquidity protocol.
Layer 1
Base blockchain (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum).
Layer 2
Scaling solutions atop Layer 1 (e.g., Lightning).
Ledger
Record of financial transactions.
Liquidity
Ease of converting assets.
Liquidity Pool
Tokens providing liquidity for trading.
Limit Order
Order at specified price.
Long
Buying expecting price increase.
LayerZero
Omnichain messaging protocol.
Lido
Liquid staking protocol.
Loopring
Layer 2 DEX and payments.
Masternode
Node providing services and earning rewards.
Market Cap
Total value of circulating tokens.
Market Order
Immediate buy/sell at market price.
Merkle Tree
Structure for efficient verification of transactions.
Miner
Node validating transactions and creating blocks.
Mining
Process securing blockchain and validating transactions.
Mining Pool
Group of miners combining resources.
Mnemonic Phrase
Words to recover wallets.
Mooning
Rapid asset price increase.
Multisig
Wallet requiring multiple signatures.
Mutable
Data that can be changed.
MakerDAO
Stablecoin governance system (DAI).
Mina Protocol
Lightweight Layer 1 blockchain.
Node
Computer maintaining blockchain copy.
Nonce
Number used once, often in mining.
NFT (Non-Fungible Token)
Unique digital asset.
Network Fee
Fee to process transactions.
NFT Marketplace
Platform to trade NFTs.
NEAR Protocol
Scalable Layer 1 blockchain.
Off-Chain
Transactions/data outside blockchain.
On-Chain
Transactions recorded on blockchain.
Oracle
Provides external data to smart contracts.
Open Source
Accessible software code.
Order Book
List of buy/sell orders.
Optimism
Ethereum Layer 2 scaling solution.
Paper Wallet
Physical wallet printout.
Peer-to-Peer (P2P)
Direct user interaction without intermediaries.
Permissioned Blockchain
Restricted-access blockchain.
Permissionless Blockchain
Open blockchain.
Private Key
Secret key for crypto access.
Protocol
Rules governing blockchain operations.
Public Key
Allows sending cryptocurrency.
Pump and Dump
Market manipulation.
Proof of Authority (PoA)
Consensus with approved validators.
Proof of Stake (PoS)
Consensus with staked tokens.
Proof of Work (PoW)
Consensus via mining puzzles.
Private Blockchain
Restricted-access blockchain.
PancakeSwap
BSC DEX.
Polygon
Ethereum Layer 2 network.
QR Code
Wallet/payment QR image.
Quantum Resistance
Security against quantum attacks.
Rebase
Algorithmic supply adjustment.
Reward
Mining, staking, or liquidity incentive.
ROI (Return on Investment)
Investment profit/loss.
RPC (Remote Procedure Call)
Node communication protocol.
Rarible
NFT marketplace.
Satoshi
Smallest Bitcoin unit.
Scalability
Blockchain transaction capacity.
SDK (Software Development Kit)
Tools for blockchain apps.
Seed Phrase
Words to restore wallets.
Security Token
Token representing real-world asset ownership.
Sharding
Splitting blockchain data.
Sidechain
Blockchain connected to main chain.
Smart Contract
Self-executing contract.
Soft Fork
Backward-compatible upgrade.
Solidity
Ethereum smart contract language.
Staking
Locking tokens to secure blockchain.
Stablecoin
Pegged cryptocurrency.
Supply
Total tokens available.
Swap
Exchange of crypto assets.
Synthetic Asset
Token representing another asset.
Synthetix
Synthetic asset protocol.
Token
Unit of value on blockchain.
Tokenomics
Token economic model.
Transaction Fee
Payment to miners/validators.
Transaction Hash
Unique transaction ID.
Trezor
Hardware wallet.
Trustless
System without central trust.
Terra
Stablecoin ecosystem (before collapse).
Theta Network
Decentralized video delivery blockchain.
Tron
High-speed blockchain platform.
Uncle Block
Valid block not in main chain.
Uniswap
Ethereum DEX.
Utility Token
Token for platform access.
Uniswap V3
AMM with concentrated liquidity.
Validator
Node verifying transactions.
Vault
Secure crypto storage.
Volume
Traded asset amount.
Volatility
Price fluctuation measure.
Wallet
Software/hardware storing keys.
Wash Trading
Market manipulation by self-trading.
Whale
Large holder.
Whitepaper
Project documentation.
Wrapped Token
Tokenized representation on another blockchain.
Waves
Blockchain platform for custom tokens.
Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC)
Bitcoin representation on Ethereum.
XRP
Ripple cryptocurrency for fast cross-border payments.
XMR
Monero is a blockchain-based cryptocurrency which is private, untraceable, fungible, and decentralized.
Yield Farming
Rewards from providing liquidity in DeFi.
YTD
Year-to-Date performance.
Yearn Finance
Yield aggregation protocol.
Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP)
Proving knowledge without revealing info.
Zerocoin
Privacy protocol for anonymous transactions.
Zilliqa
Sharded blockchain platform.
Zapper
DeFi dashboard and aggregator.