Cryptocurrency Glossary
Your complete guide to understanding crypto terminology. Search through 100+ terms covering trading, DeFi, NFTs, blockchain technology, and more.
110 terms found
2
2FA
Security & WalletsTwo-Factor Authentication - An extra layer of security requiring a second verification method.
A
Altcoin
Tokens & TokenomicsAny cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin.
AMM
DeFiAutomated Market Maker - A protocol that uses liquidity pools instead of order books for trading.
APY
DeFiAnnual Percentage Yield - The annualized rate of return on an investment, including compound interest.
ATH
Trading & MarketsAll-Time High - The highest price a cryptocurrency has ever reached.
ATL
Trading & MarketsAll-Time Low - The lowest price a cryptocurrency has ever reached.
Avatar
NFTs & GamingA digital representation of a user in virtual environments or games.
B
Bag Holder
Analysis & MetricsSomeone holding a cryptocurrency that has significantly decreased in value.
Bear Market
Trading & MarketsA market condition characterized by falling prices and pessimistic investor sentiment.
Bid/Ask Spread
Trading & MarketsThe difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay (bid) and the lowest price a seller will accept (ask).
Block Explorer
Blockchain & TechnologyA tool that allows users to view and search blockchain transactions, addresses, and blocks.
Blockchain
Blockchain & TechnologyA distributed ledger technology that records transactions across multiple computers in a secure and immutable way.
Bridge
DeFiA protocol that enables the transfer of assets between different blockchain networks.
Bull Market
Trading & MarketsA market condition characterized by rising prices and optimistic investor sentiment.
Buyback
Tokens & TokenomicsWhen a project repurchases its own tokens from the market, often to reduce supply or support price.
C
CEX
DeFiCentralized Exchange - A traditional cryptocurrency exchange operated by a central authority.
Circulating Supply
Tokens & TokenomicsThe number of tokens currently available and actively trading in the market.
Cliff
Tokens & TokenomicsA period during which no tokens are released, followed by a large unlock or the start of gradual vesting.
Coin
Tokens & TokenomicsA cryptocurrency that operates on its own independent blockchain (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum).
Cold Wallet
Security & WalletsA cryptocurrency wallet that is not connected to the internet, providing enhanced security.
Collateral
DeFiAssets pledged as security for a loan in DeFi protocols.
Consensus
Blockchain & TechnologyThe mechanism by which a blockchain network agrees on the current state of the ledger.
Custodial
Security & WalletsA service where a third party holds and manages your cryptocurrency on your behalf.
D
DeFi
DeFiDecentralized Finance - Financial services built on blockchain without traditional intermediaries.
Deflation
Tokens & TokenomicsThe decrease in token supply over time, potentially increasing the value of remaining tokens.
Degen
Analysis & MetricsDegenerate - A trader who makes high-risk, speculative investments.
Delisting
Trading & MarketsThe removal of a cryptocurrency token from an exchange's trading platform, preventing further trading of that asset.
Track Delistings →DEX
DeFiDecentralized Exchange - A platform for trading cryptocurrencies without a central authority.
Diamond Hands
Analysis & MetricsAn investor who holds their position through significant volatility without selling.
Digital Asset
NFTs & GamingAny item of value that exists in digital form, including cryptocurrencies and NFTs.
F
Flash Loan
DeFiAn uncollateralized loan that must be borrowed and repaid within a single blockchain transaction.
Floor Price
NFTs & GamingThe lowest price at which an NFT from a collection is currently listed for sale.
FOMO
Trading & MarketsFear Of Missing Out - The anxiety that others are profiting from a price increase, leading to impulsive buying.
Fork
Blockchain & TechnologyA change to a blockchain's protocol that creates a divergence from the previous version.
FUD
Trading & MarketsFear, Uncertainty, and Doubt - Negative information spread to influence market sentiment and drive prices down.
Futures
Exchanges & TradingContracts to buy or sell cryptocurrency at a predetermined price on a future date.
G
GameFi
NFTs & GamingThe combination of gaming and DeFi, where players earn financial rewards through gameplay.
Gas Fee
Blockchain & TechnologyThe transaction fee paid to process operations on a blockchain network.
Governance Token
Tokens & TokenomicsA token that grants holders voting rights in protocol decisions and upgrades.
H
Hard Fork
Blockchain & TechnologyA permanent divergence in the blockchain, creating two separate chains that are not compatible.
Hardware Wallet
Security & WalletsA physical device that stores cryptocurrency private keys offline.
HODL
Analysis & MetricsHold On for Dear Life - A strategy of holding cryptocurrency long-term despite volatility.
Hot Wallet
Security & WalletsA cryptocurrency wallet connected to the internet, offering convenience but less security.
I
Impermanent Loss
DeFiThe temporary loss of funds experienced when providing liquidity to a pool due to price volatility.
Inflation
Tokens & TokenomicsThe increase in token supply over time, potentially reducing the value of existing tokens.
L
Lambo
Analysis & MetricsLamborghini - A symbol of crypto wealth, as in "when Lambo?"
Layer 1
Blockchain & TechnologyThe base blockchain protocol (e.g., Ethereum, Bitcoin) that processes and finalizes transactions.
Layer 2
Blockchain & TechnologyA secondary protocol built on top of a Layer 1 blockchain to improve scalability and reduce fees.
Leverage
Exchanges & TradingBorrowing funds to increase position size and potential returns (and risks).
Limit Order
Trading & MarketsAn order to buy or sell at a specific price or better.
Liquidation
DeFiThe forced sale of collateral when its value falls below the required threshold for a loan.
Liquidity
Trading & MarketsHow easily a cryptocurrency can be bought or sold without significantly affecting its price.
Liquidity Pool
DeFiA collection of funds locked in a smart contract, used to facilitate decentralized trading.
Listing
Trading & MarketsWhen a cryptocurrency exchange adds a new token to its trading platform, making it available for users to buy and sell.
View Latest Listings →Long
Exchanges & TradingA position betting that the price will increase.
M
Margin
Exchanges & TradingThe collateral required to open and maintain a leveraged trading position.
Market Cap
Trading & MarketsThe total value of a cryptocurrency, calculated by multiplying the current price by the circulating supply.
Market Order
Trading & MarketsAn order to buy or sell immediately at the current market price.
Max Supply
Tokens & TokenomicsThe maximum number of tokens that will ever exist for a cryptocurrency.
Metadata
NFTs & GamingInformation describing an NFT's properties, such as image, attributes, and rarity.
Metaverse
NFTs & GamingA virtual world where users can interact, own assets, and participate in experiences.
Minting
NFTs & GamingThe process of creating a new NFT or cryptocurrency token on a blockchain.
Moon
Analysis & MetricsA significant price increase, as in "to the moon".
Multi-sig
Security & WalletsMulti-signature - A wallet that requires multiple private keys to authorize a transaction.
N
NFT
NFTs & GamingNon-Fungible Token - A unique digital asset that represents ownership of a specific item or piece of content.
Node
Blockchain & TechnologyA computer that participates in a blockchain network by maintaining a copy of the ledger.
Non-custodial
Security & WalletsA wallet where you maintain full control of your private keys and funds.
O
On-chain Analysis
Analysis & MetricsThe study of blockchain data to understand market trends and investor behavior.
Oracle
DeFiA service that provides external real-world data to smart contracts on the blockchain.
Order Book
Trading & MarketsA real-time list of buy and sell orders for a specific cryptocurrency on an exchange.
P
Paper Hands
Analysis & MetricsAn investor who sells quickly at the first sign of price decline.
Perpetual
Exchanges & TradingFutures contracts with no expiration date, allowing indefinite positions.
Play-to-Earn
NFTs & GamingA gaming model where players can earn cryptocurrency or NFTs by playing.
Private Key
Security & WalletsA secret cryptographic code that allows you to access and control your cryptocurrency.
Proof of Stake
Blockchain & TechnologyA consensus mechanism where validators are chosen based on the amount of cryptocurrency they hold and stake.
Proof of Work
Blockchain & TechnologyA consensus mechanism where miners compete to solve complex mathematical problems to validate transactions.
Public Key
Security & WalletsA cryptographic code derived from your private key, used to receive cryptocurrency.
Pump and Dump
Trading & MarketsA market manipulation scheme where the price is artificially inflated (pumped) before being sold off (dumped).
Detection Guide →R
Rekt
Analysis & MetricsWrecked - Suffering significant financial losses in trading.
Royalty
NFTs & GamingA percentage of secondary sales that goes back to the original NFT creator.
Rug Pull
Trading & MarketsA scam where developers abandon a project and run away with investors' funds.
S
Security Token
Tokens & TokenomicsA token that represents ownership in a real-world asset or company, subject to securities regulations.
Seed Phrase
Security & WalletsA series of 12-24 words that can be used to recover your cryptocurrency wallet.
Shill
Analysis & MetricsTo aggressively promote a cryptocurrency, often for personal gain.
Short
Exchanges & TradingA position betting that the price will decrease.
Slippage
Trading & MarketsThe difference between the expected price of a trade and the actual executed price.
Smart Contract
Blockchain & TechnologySelf-executing code on a blockchain that automatically enforces the terms of an agreement.
Soft Fork
Blockchain & TechnologyA backward-compatible upgrade to the blockchain that doesn't split the network.
Spot Trading
Exchanges & TradingBuying or selling cryptocurrency for immediate delivery at the current market price.
Stablecoin
Tokens & TokenomicsA cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value, typically pegged to a fiat currency like USD.
Staking
DeFiLocking up cryptocurrency to support network operations and earn rewards.
Stop Loss
Exchanges & TradingAn order that automatically sells when the price reaches a specified level to limit losses.
Synthetic Asset
Tokens & TokenomicsA tokenized derivative that mimics the value of another asset without requiring ownership of the underlying asset.
T
Take Profit
Exchanges & TradingAn order that automatically sells when the price reaches a target to lock in gains.
Token
Tokens & TokenomicsA digital asset created on an existing blockchain, representing various utilities or assets.
Token Burn
Tokens & TokenomicsThe permanent removal of tokens from circulation, typically to reduce supply and increase scarcity.
Token Unlock
Tokens & TokenomicsThe scheduled release of previously locked tokens, making them available for trading or use.
Track Token Unlocks →Tokenomics
Tokens & TokenomicsThe economic model and distribution strategy of a cryptocurrency, including supply, allocation, and incentives.
Total Supply
Tokens & TokenomicsThe total number of tokens that currently exist, including locked and burned tokens.
Trailing Stop
Exchanges & TradingA dynamic stop loss that moves with the price to protect profits while allowing for gains.
Transaction Hash
Blockchain & TechnologyA unique identifier for a blockchain transaction, used to track and verify its status.
TVL
DeFiTotal Value Locked - The total amount of assets deposited in a DeFi protocol.
U
Utility Token
Tokens & TokenomicsA token that provides access to a specific product or service within a blockchain ecosystem.
V
Validator
Blockchain & TechnologyA node responsible for verifying and validating transactions on a Proof of Stake blockchain.
Vesting
Tokens & TokenomicsA schedule that determines when tokens become available to holders, typically used for team and investor allocations.
Volatility
Trading & MarketsThe degree of price variation over time. High volatility means large price swings.
Volume
Trading & MarketsThe total amount of a cryptocurrency traded within a specific time period, usually measured in 24 hours.
W
Whale
Trading & MarketsAn individual or entity that holds a large amount of cryptocurrency, capable of influencing market prices.
Track Whale Activity →Wrapped Token
Tokens & TokenomicsA token that represents another cryptocurrency on a different blockchain (e.g., WBTC on Ethereum).
Y
Yield Farming
DeFiThe practice of staking or lending crypto assets to generate returns or rewards.