Crypto Glossary
A comprehensive guide to cryptocurrency terms and definitions to help you navigate the crypto world.
A
Altcoin
Any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin. Ethereum, Litecoin, and thousands of other cryptocurrencies fall into this category.
B
Blockchain
A distributed digital ledger that records transactions across many computers so that any involved record cannot be altered retroactively without the alteration of all subsequent blocks.
Bull/Bear Market
A bull market refers to a market that is on the rise and where the conditions of the economy are generally favorable. A bear market exists in an economy that is receding and where most stocks are declining in value.
C
Candlestick Chart
A type of price chart used in technical analysis that shows the high, low, open, and closing prices of a security for a specific period.
D
DeFi (Decentralized Finance)
Financial services and applications built on blockchain technology that operate without a central authority or intermediary.
F
FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
The apprehension that one might miss an opportunity for profit, especially when seeing others succeed in the market.
FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt)
A strategy to influence perception by disseminating negative and dubious information to induce fear and hesitation.
G
Gas
A fee paid to miners or validators on a blockchain network to include a transaction in the blockchain. The term is primarily used in the Ethereum ecosystem.
H
HODL
A term derived from a misspelling of 'hold' in a Bitcoin forum. It refers to a buy-and-hold strategy in cryptocurrency investing rather than selling in response to price volatility.
I
ICO (Initial Coin Offering)
A fundraising mechanism where new projects sell their underlying crypto tokens in exchange for bitcoin or ether. Similar to an IPO in the stock market.
M
Market Cap
The total value of a cryptocurrency, calculated by multiplying the price of the cryptocurrency by its circulating supply.
Mining
The process by which new cryptocurrency coins are created and transactions are verified and added to the blockchain ledger.
N
NFT (Non-Fungible Token)
A unique digital asset that represents ownership of a specific item or piece of content, such as art, music, or in-game items.
P
Private Key
A secure code that allows direct access to your cryptocurrency holdings. Should be kept confidential as anyone with your private key can access your funds.
Public Key
A cryptographic code that enables users to receive cryptocurrency into their accounts. The public key is derived from the private key but is mathematically impossible to reverse engineer back to the private key.
S
Smart Contract
Self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code. They automatically enforce and execute the terms of an agreement when predetermined conditions are met.
Stablecoin
A type of cryptocurrency designed to minimize price volatility, often by pegging its value to a stable asset like the US dollar.
W
Wallet
A digital tool that allows users to store and manage their cryptocurrency. Can be hardware-based, software-based, or paper-based.
Whale
An individual or entity that holds a large amount of a particular cryptocurrency, enough to influence its price through buying or selling actions.
Y
Yield Farming
The practice of staking or lending crypto assets to generate high returns or rewards in the form of additional cryptocurrency.
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