Cryptocurrency Glossary

Altcoin

Any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin. Examples include Ethereum, Ripple, and Litecoin.

The first and most well-known cryptocurrency, created by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009.

A decentralized ledger of all transactions across a peer-to-peer network.

A process used in blockchains to achieve agreement on a single data value or state of the network.

The science of securing communication using mathematical techniques, fundamental to blockchain technology.

A financial system built on blockchain that offers financial services without intermediaries.

An open-source blockchain with smart contract functionality, and the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap.

A divergence in a blockchain due to changes in consensus rules. It can be soft or hard.

Transaction fees paid to compensate for the computing energy required to process operations on Ethereum.

A scheduled reduction in mining rewards that lowers the rate of new cryptocurrency creation.

The total computational power being used to mine and process blockchain transactions.

A fundraising method where new crypto projects sell tokens to investors.

A secondary framework or protocol built on top of a blockchain to increase scalability and efficiency.

A collection of tokens locked in a smart contract used to facilitate decentralized trading and lending.

The total value of a cryptocurrency, calculated as price per coin × circulating supply.

The process of validating blockchain transactions and adding them to the ledger, often rewarded with coins.

A unique digital item verified using blockchain, used for collectibles, art, and digital ownership.

A secure code known only to the owner that allows access to their cryptocurrency wallet.

A consensus mechanism where validators are chosen based on the amount of crypto they 'stake' or lock up.

A consensus mechanism where miners solve complex puzzles to validate transactions and secure the network.

A cryptographic code that allows users to receive cryptocurrency into their account.

Self-executing digital contracts with conditions written directly into code on the blockchain.

A cryptocurrency with a value pegged to a reserve asset like the US Dollar to reduce volatility.

A digital tool that allows users to store and manage their cryptocurrency holdings.