Crypto Glossary: 50 Terms You Need to Know

Airdrop: A marketing tactic used by cryptocurrency projects to distribute free tokens or coins to users as a way to build awareness and encourage adoption.

• Altcoin: Any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin, the first and most well-known cryptocurrency.

• Arbitrage: Buying and selling simultaneously for profit. Arbitrage is based on market inefficiencies.

• Bull / Bullish: Anticipating that the price will increase.

• Bear / Bearish: Anticipating that the price will decrease.

• Block explorer: A tool that allows users to explore the blockchain and view information about specific transactions, blocks, or addresses. Block explorers can be useful for tracking the progress of a transaction, checking the balance of an address, or researching a particular cryptocurrency.

• Blockchain: A distributed ledger technology that enables secure and transparent record-keeping on a decentralized network.

• Centralized exchange: A digital platform where users can buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies, with the platform acting as the central authority in managing transactions and user funds.

• Cold storage: A method of storing cryptocurrency offline, typically on a hardware wallet or paper wallet, to protect it from hacking or other security threats.

• Consensus: The agreement of a network of nodes or participants on the validity of transactions or changes to the blockchain. Consensus is typically reached through a consensus mechanism, such as proof of work or proof of stake.

• Cryptocurrency: A digital asset that uses cryptography to secure and verify transactions on a decentralized network.

• DAO: Decentralized autonomous organization, a type of organization that is run by smart contracts and operates on a blockchain network.

• DApp: Short for decentralized application, a software application that runs on a blockchain network and is powered by smart contracts.

• Decentralization: The process of transferring control or decision-making power from a central authority to a network of independent nodes or participants.

• DeFi: A movement in the cryptocurrency industry that aims to create decentralized financial systems and applications that are accessible to anyone, without the need for traditional financial intermediaries like banks.

• Exchange (Crypto): Is a digital platform where people can buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies.

• Fiat currency: Traditional government-issued currency, such as the US dollar, that is not backed by a physical commodity like gold.

• FOMO: Fear Of Missing Out. This is a feeling of anxiety or concern that you might miss out on a profitable opportunity in the crypto market if you don’t act quickly.

• Fork: A change in the protocol or software of a blockchain network that creates two or more distinct versions of the network.

• FUD: Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. This is a tactic used by some market participants to spread negative or false information about a particular cryptocurrency or project, in order to create fear and uncertainty and drive down its price.

• Gas: The unit of measurement for calculating the cost of executing transactions or smart contracts on a blockchain network.

• Going long: A trade that benefits if the price increases.

• Going short: A trade that benefits if the price decreases.

• Hacking: The act of gaining unauthorized access to a computer system or network, often with the intent to steal or manipulate data or assets.

• Hard cap: The maximum amount of funding that a cryptocurrency project is seeking to raise during an initial coin offering.

• Hard fork: A permanent split in a blockchain network, typically resulting from a change in the rules or protocols of the system. This can create two separate, incompatible versions of the network.

• HODL: A misspelling of “hold” that has become a slang term in the crypto community, referring to the act of holding onto cryptocurrency for the long term, rather than trading or selling it.

• ICO: Initial coin offering, a fundraising method in which new cryptocurrency projects sell tokens to investors in exchange for funding.

• Liquidity: The degree to which an asset can be bought or sold in the market without affecting its price. In the context of cryptocurrency, liquidity is an important consideration for investors and traders, as it can affect the ease with which they can enter and exit positions.

• Market cap: The total value of all units of a particular cryptocurrency that are in circulation, calculated by multiplying the current price per unit by the total number of units in circulation.

• Mining: The process of adding new transactions to the blockchain and verifying their validity, typically through the use of specialized hardware and software. Mining is a key component of proof-of-work blockchain systems, such as Bitcoin.

• Public key: A publicly visible code used to receive and verify cryptocurrency transactions.

• Proof of stake (PoS): A consensus mechanism used by some blockchain networks, in which validators must stake a certain amount of cryptocurrency to secure the network and earn rewards.

• Proof of work (PoW): A consensus mechanism used by some blockchain networks, in which miners must solve complex mathematical puzzles to verify transactions and earn rewards.

• Pump and dump: A coordinated effort by a group of traders to artificially inflate the price of a cryptocurrency, usually through social media and other online channels, and then sell their holdings at a profit once the price has risen.

• Pumping: A substantial increase in a price of a crypto, stock or other asset.

• ROI: Return On Investment

• Satoshi: The smallest unit of Bitcoin, equal to 0.00000001 BTC.

• Shitcoin: A terminology used in the cryptocurrency world to refer to a coin that is considered worthless, fraudulent, or lacking in credibility. The term is often used to describe cryptocurrencies that have no real use case or value proposition, or that have been created as a joke or a scam.

• Smart contract: A self-executing digital contract that automatically enforces the terms of an agreement between parties, without the need for intermediaries.

• Soft cap: The minimum amount of funding that a cryptocurrency project is seeking to raise during an initial coin offering.

• Soft fork: A temporary split in a blockchain network, typically resulting from a minor change to the rules or protocols of the system. This does not create separate versions of the network, as all nodes can still communicate with each other.

• Stablecoin: A type of cryptocurrency that is designed to maintain a stable value, typically by pegging its price to a more stable asset, such as the US dollar or gold.

• Staking: The act of locking up cryptocurrency to support the security and functioning of a blockchain network, in return for earning rewards or incentives.

• Token: A digital asset that represents a unit of value in a blockchain network. Tokens can be used for a variety of purposes, such as accessing network resources, making transactions, or storing data.

• Trezor: A brand of Hard-wallet, used to store Cryptocurrencies.

• Wallet: A digital tool that allows users to store, send, and receive cryptocurrency. Wallets come in different types, such as desktop, mobile, web-based, and hardware, each with its own features and security considerations.

• Whale: A term used to describe individuals or entities that hold a large amount of cryptocurrency. Whales have the potential to influence the market through their buying and selling activities.

• White paper: A document that outlines the technical and conceptual details of a cryptocurrency project, often used to promote or introduce a new coin or token.

• Yield farming: A practice in decentralized finance (DeFi) that involves staking or locking up cryptocurrency in order to earn rewards or a yield.