Glossary
Crypto comes with its own language. This glossary is your quick guide to mastering the terms and slang that shape the space.
The world of crypto is full of new terms and slang. Use this glossary to help you navigate the landscape.
Altcoin: Any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin.
ATH (All-Time High): The highest price a cryptocurrency has ever reached.
Blockchain: A decentralized, distributed, and immutable digital ledger used to record transactions.
Cold Wallet / Cold Storage: A secure method of storing cryptocurrency offline, typically on a hardware device.
DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization): An organization run by code and controlled by its members, without central leadership.
DApp (Decentralized Application): An application that runs on a blockchain network rather than a central server.
DeFi (Decentralized Finance): A movement to recreate traditional financial systems (like lending and borrowing) using blockchain technology.
Fiat: Government-issued currency that is not backed by a physical commodity, such as the US Dollar or the Euro.
FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out): The feeling of anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on social media. In trading, it leads to impulsive buying.
FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt): A strategy to influence perception by spreading negative and dubious or false information.
Gas Fees: The fees required to conduct a transaction or execute a smart contract on the Ethereum blockchain.
HODL: A popular slang term in the crypto community that means holding onto a cryptocurrency rather than selling it, regardless of price volatility.
Hot Wallet: A software-based crypto wallet that is connected to the internet.
Market Capitalization (Market Cap): The total market value of a cryptocurrency's circulating supply. It's calculated by multiplying the price of a coin by its total circulating supply.
NFT (Non-Fungible Token): A unique digital asset that represents ownership of a specific item or piece of content on a blockchain.
Private Key: A secret, alphanumeric code that allows you to access and manage your cryptocurrency. It should never be shared.
Seed Phrase (Recovery Phrase): A list of words that can be used to restore access to a crypto wallet.
Stablecoin: A type of cryptocurrency whose value is pegged to another asset, like the US dollar, to maintain a stable price.
Whitepaper: A detailed, authoritative document released by a crypto project that explains its technology, goals, and roadmap.