(Glossary) 38 terms
Speak fluent chain.
Crypto and blockchain terms in plain English, with the key details and real examples behind each one.
A
B
- Read
Bitcoin
The first and most well-known cryptocurrency, created by an anonymous person or group under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto.
- Read
Blockchain
A decentralized, distributed ledger technology that records transactions across many computers.
- Read
Blockchain Analytics
The analysis of on-chain data to derive insights about network activity, user behavior, and market trends.
- Read
Blockchain Bridge
A connection that allows the transfer of tokens and/or arbitrary data from one blockchain network to another.
C
- Read
Cold Storage
Keeping a reserve of cryptocurrency offline to protect it from hacking, theft, or accidental loss.
- Read
Consensus Mechanism
A protocol that ensures all nodes in a blockchain network agree on the validity of transactions and their order.
- Read
Crypto Analytics
The analysis of both on-chain and off-chain data related to cryptocurrencies to inform investment decisions and understand market dynamics.
D
- Read
DAO
Decentralized Autonomous Organization; an organization represented by rules encoded as a computer program that is transparent and controlled by the organization members.
- Read
DeFi
Decentralized Finance; a system of financial services built on blockchain technologies.
- Read
DEX
Decentralized Exchange; a type of cryptocurrency exchange that operates without a central authority.
E
- Read
EMA
Exponential Moving Average; a type of moving average that gives more weight to recent price data, used in crypto trading for identifying trends.
- Read
Ethereum
A decentralized, open-source blockchain featuring smart contract functionality.
- Read
Exchange
A platform where users can buy, sell, or trade cryptocurrencies.
G
H
- Read
Hard Fork
A radical change to a network's protocol that makes previously invalid blocks and transactions valid, or vice-versa.
- Read
Hash Rate
The speed at which a computer or network is completing hash operations in cryptocurrency mining.
- Read
HODL
A term derived from a misspelling of 'hold,' used in the crypto community to refer to buying and holding cryptocurrencies long-term.
L
M
N
O
S
- Read
Slippage
The difference between the expected price of a trade and the price at which the trade is actually executed.
- Read
Smart Contract
Self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code.
- Read
Stablecoin
A type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value relative to a reference asset, often a fiat currency.