Crypto Glossary
Cryptocurrency and blockchain terms explained simply.
Automated Market Maker
APRAnnual Percentage Rate
APYAnnual Percentage Yield
AirdropFree token distribution to wallet holders
AltcoinAny cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin
BlockchainDistributed ledger technology
BridgeCross-chain asset transfer protocol
Cold WalletOffline cryptocurrency storage
Consensus MechanismMethod for blockchain agreement
DAODecentralized Autonomous Organization
DAppDecentralized Application
DEXDecentralized Exchange
DeFiDecentralized Finance
EVMEthereum Virtual Machine
FOMOFear Of Missing Out
FUDFear, Uncertainty, and Doubt
FiatGovernment-issued currency
GasTransaction fee unit on Ethereum
HODLHold On for Dear Life
HalvingBitcoin block reward reduction
Hash RateMining computational power
Hot WalletInternet-connected crypto wallet
Impermanent LossLP value loss from price changes
KYCKnow Your Customer
Layer 1Base blockchain network
Layer 2Scaling solution built on L1
LiquidityEase of trading an asset
Liquidity PoolDEX trading reserves
MEVMaximal Extractable Value
Market CapTotal value of cryptocurrency
MiningCreating new cryptocurrency
NFTNon-Fungible Token
NodeNetwork participant computer
OracleExternal data provider
Private KeySecret wallet access code
Proof of StakeStaking-based consensus
Proof of WorkMining-based consensus
Public KeyWallet address derivation
RollupL2 scaling technology
Seed PhraseWallet recovery words
SlippagePrice difference in trades
Smart ContractSelf-executing code on blockchain
StablecoinPrice-stable cryptocurrency
StakingLocking tokens for rewards
TVLTotal Value Locked
TokenDigital asset on blockchain
TokenomicsToken economic design
ValidatorPoS block producer
WalletCrypto storage interface
WhaleLarge cryptocurrency holder
Yield FarmingDeFi return optimization
Zero Knowledge ProofPrivacy-preserving verification