Glossary

A blockchain address is a unique alphanumeric identifier used to send and receive transactions on a network, such as an Ethereum address that starts with 0x.

A method for securing computers in which the device does not connect to the internet or any other open networks.

An airdrop is a token distribution method where cryptocurrency is sent to wallet addresses, often as a marketing strategy in exchange for simple tasks.

Alpha is valuable information shared before it hits the general public on upcoming drops, news, updates, and more.

Any digital currency alternative to Bitcoin. Many altcoins are forks of Bitcoin with minor changes (e.g., Litecoin).

An interface between two binary program modules, often one program is a library and the other is being run by a user.

Augmented Reality is the tech used to create an overlay of digital information of visuals, sounds and haptics.

A cross-chain trading mechanism that enables users to exchange one cryptocurrency for another without the need for a centralized exchange.

In Proof of Stake, validators (other than the block proposer) attest or vote on blocks they agree with to form consensus and confirm transactions.

A profile pictures style NFT that can also represent a 3D version that can be used in blockchain gaming and the metaverse.

The Beacon Chain (always capitalized) is one element in the infrastructure being built to scale Ethereum, and is the foundation for a transition from a Proof of Work (PoW) consensus mechanism to Proof of Stake (PoS). For more information, see this guide.

Bitcoin isn’t just for everyday investors anymore — big companies and even governments are now locking it away in their vaults. Welcome to the world of Bitcoin Treasuries.

A blockchain is a living, distributed ledger where verified transactions are securely locked into blocks and linked together, creating a transparent and trustworthy chain of data.

A tool that allows users to view and search the contents of the blockchain.

The number of blocks connected together in the blockchain. For example, Height 0 would be the very first block, which is also called the Genesis Block.

A block reward is the exciting incentive miners earn for securing the blockchain, combining newly minted coins and transaction fees for validating a block.

Block time is the heartbeat of a blockchain, measuring how quickly miners or validators confirm a block and keep the network running smoothly.

The person you wish existed before your smart contract got hacked — a blockchain auditor reviews every line of code to catch vulnerabilities before they cost you everything.

A reward offered for exposing vulnerabilities and issues in computer code.

Bytecode is the machine-level language that powers Ethereum smart contracts, created by compiling Solidity so the EVM can execute them securely and efficiently.

The ability of a network to properly reach consensus at any time, assuming that no more than 1/3 of its actors are malicious.

A “hard fork” in the Ethereum network that occurred in October of 2017. For detailled information, see here; see also “hard fork”.

A centralized authority that correlates identities with a public/private key pair in a private key infrastructure.

Derived from “Commerce & Decentralized Finance”, Codefi, part of ConsenSys, is building a suite of commerce and financial applications.

A coin, in cryptocurrency, is a representation of digital asset value that is generated via its own independent blockchain.

A method of storing cryptocurrencies offline to protect them from hackers.

An offline wallet that is never connected to the internet. These wallets protect cryptocurrencies from getting hacked online.

A confirmation is the moment a blockchain transaction earns trust, as miners or validators verify it, making the transfer secure and increasingly irreversible.

Currency is a widely accepted form of money that represents value and trust, enabling people to exchange goods and settle debts in everyday life.

A decentralized application (dApp) is an open-source app that runs on a peer-to-peer blockchain network, empowering users with transparency, security, and freedom from central control.

The transfer of authority and responsibility from a centralized organization, government, or party to a distributed network.

Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) use blockchain technology to reward everyday people for building and sharing real-world services together. It is one of the most exciting and fast-growing sectors in the Web3 space right now — and the action is only just getting started.

A directed graph structure (e.g., flow chart) that has no recursive routes (i.e., traversing the graph will never go twice through the same route or branch).

A type of cyber-attack in which the perpetrator continuously overwhelms the system with requests in order to prevent service of legitimate requests.

A distributed ledger is a shared database spread across multiple locations, building trust and transparency by securely recording data that can be permissioned or open to all.

The Ethereum Name Service is a protocol to assign human-readable and easy-to-remember addresses to Ethereum addresses and assets, homologous to the traditional internet’s DNS.

A group of Ethereum core developers, startups, and large companies working together to commercialize and use Ethereum for different business applications.

In the context of cryptography, ‘entropy’ refers to ‘randomness’; generally, the more random something is (the more entropy it has), the more secure it is.

EOS is a high-performance Blockchain 3.0 platform designed for fast, scalable transactions, using DPoS consensus and WASM smart contracts to power real-world dApps.

ERC-721 is the Ethereum token standard that enables the creation of unique, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), giving digital assets their own identity and value.

Ether (ETH) is Ethereum’s native cryptocurrency, powering the network by incentivizing participants and fueling transactions across the blockchain ecosystem.

EIPs describe standards for the Ethereum platform, including core protocol specifications, client APIs, and contract standards. They are, precisely, proposals for modifications to the network and the way it functions.

When a blockchain’s rules get updated or split, creating either an upgraded version or a completely new separate blockchain.

When a miner sneaks their own transaction ahead of yours in the queue because they already know your transaction is coming.

Genesis blocks can be configurable to create a fork of a chain for purposes such as pre-loading accounts with tokens for a test network or specifying different block parameters.

The total computing power being used to mine and secure a blockchain — higher the hashrate, stronger and safer the network.

A crypto slang for “Hold On for Dear Life,” meaning don’t sell your crypto no matter how much the price drops or rises.

Once data is written on the blockchain, it can never be changed or deleted.

A crypto startup sells its own tokens to the public to raise money for development.

Same as ICO, but done on a decentralized platform with no middleman involved.

A fundraising event where blockchain gaming projects sell tokens early to investors.

A protocol that enables payments between different ledgers and networks.

A mandatory identity verification process that crypto exchanges use to confirm who you are before letting you trade, to prevent fraud and money laundering.

A fast payment layer built on top of Bitcoin that allows instant, low-fee transactions without congesting the main blockchain.

An instruction to buy or sell a crypto only when it hits a specific price you set in advance, not before, not after.

How easily and quickly a crypto can be bought or sold in the market without drastically affecting its price.

An NFT marketplace that launched in 2022 as a community-first alternative to OpenSea, rewarding users with its own native token.

Tokens given to users as a receipt when they deposit their crypto into a DeFi liquidity pool, representing their share.

The fully live and real version of a blockchain where actual transactions happen, as opposed to a testnet used for experiments.

The total value of a cryptocurrency, calculated by multiplying its current price by the total number of coins in circulation.

A cryptocurrency born from internet jokes or memes, like Dogecoin, that can sometimes deliver massive returns despite having no serious utility.

A waiting room where unconfirmed transactions sit until miners pick them up and add them to the blockchain.

A cryptographic data structure that organizes blockchain transactions in a tree-like format, making it easy to verify data quickly and securely.

Extra information attached to blockchain data that provides context and details about a transaction or asset, without being the actual content itself.

A popular crypto wallet and browser extension that lets you store, send, and interact with Ethereum-based tokens and DeFi apps.

A virtual digital world powered by blockchain and VR/AR where people can interact, play, work, and own digital assets.

The extra profit miners or validators can make by reordering, inserting, or removing transactions inside a block before it’s confirmed.

A group of crypto miners who combine their computing power together to increase their chances of earning block rewards.

A crypto model that rewards users with digital tokens for real-world physical activities like walking, running, or exercising.

A small charge you pay every time you make a transaction on a blockchain, similar to a bank transfer fee but paid to miners or validators.

A unique digital asset on the blockchain that proves ownership of something one-of-a-kind, like art, music, or collectibles, that cannot be copied or replaced.

Any computer or device connected to a blockchain network that helps verify transactions and stores the entire history of that blockchain.

A transaction that happens outside the blockchain — faster and more private, but not recorded on the public ledger.

A transaction that happens directly on the blockchain and is permanently recorded for everyone to see.

A method that bundles hundreds of transactions together and processes them off-chain to make Ethereum faster and cheaper.

An oracle network provides real-world data to blockchain smart contracts.

An upgraded version of Bitcoin’s token standard, built to be more flexible, secure, and scalable than its predecessor BRC-20.

A live list on a crypto exchange showing all the buy and sell orders placed by traders for a specific coin.

A valid block that got mined but was rejected because another miner submitted a competing block to the blockchain just a split second earlier.

When two parties trade crypto directly with each other, bypassing any public exchange entirely.

A crypto payment gateway enables businesses to accept cryptocurrency payments securely.

An extremely powerful next-gen computer that can solve complex problems millions of times faster than today’s regular computers, and is seen as a future threat to blockchain security.

The backbone of the Polkadot network that connects and secures all its smaller blockchains, enabling them to communicate and share data with each other.

A crypto project’s official plan that outlines what it has built so far and what features or milestones it promises to deliver in the future.

A crypto scam where developers suddenly vanish with all investor funds, leaving buyers with worthless tokens and zero recourse.

Satoshi Nakamoto is the mysterious creator of Bitcoin, whose vision ignited the global movement toward decentralized money and financial freedom.

A casual mobile gaming model, popular on Telegram, where users earn crypto tokens simply by tapping their screen repeatedly.

A major Bitcoin upgrade that makes transactions faster, cheaper, and more private by simplifying complex transaction data on the network.

A practice version of a blockchain where developers test new features and updates without using real money or affecting the live network.

The world’s most widely used stablecoin, pegged 1:1 to the US dollar, designed to give crypto traders a stable asset without leaving the crypto ecosystem.

A digital asset built on an existing blockchain that can represent currency, ownership, voting rights, or access to a specific project or service.

The permanent removal of a certain number of tokens from circulation by sending them to an unusable wallet address, reducing total supply to increase scarcity.

The process of exchanging one crypto token for another, either across different blockchains or within a DeFi platform.

The process of converting real-world assets like property, art, or stocks into digital tokens on a blockchain for easier trading and ownership.

The economic model behind a crypto token that defines its total supply, distribution, inflation rate, and what gives it real value.

The total number of coins or tokens that currently exist for a cryptocurrency, including those already mined, created, or generated since launch.

Short for Traditional Finance, referring to conventional banks, stock exchanges, and financial institutions that operate outside the crypto world.

The total amount of a cryptocurrency bought and sold within a specific time period, used to measure market interest and activity.

The number of transactions a blockchain can handle per second, used to measure how fast and efficient a network is.

A fully regulated stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, widely used in DeFi and crypto payments as a trusted and transparent alternative to cash.

A crypto token that gives holders access to a specific product, service, or feature within a blockchain project, rather than representing ownership or investment.

The leftover crypto balance remaining after a transaction is completed, which then becomes the input for the next transaction on that blockchain.

A computer or participant in a blockchain network responsible for verifying transactions and adding new blocks to keep the chain secure and accurate.

A schedule that locks crypto tokens for a set period before they can be sold or transferred, used to prevent early investors or team members from dumping all at once.

The Russian-Canadian programmer who co-founded Ethereum in 2015, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the entire crypto industry.

A popular crypto slang for “We Are All Gonna Make It,” used by the community to spread positivity and encourage holding during market downturns.

The next generation of the internet built on blockchain technology, where users own their data and no single company or government controls anything.

A version of Bitcoin that works on the Ethereum blockchain, allowing Bitcoin holders to use their BTC in Ethereum’s DeFi apps and services.

Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZK-SNARKs) are groundbreaking cryptographic tools that ensure privacy and trust on blockchain networks while enabling secure, scalable, and decentralized applications.