Crypto Dictionary
30+ essential cryptocurrency terms explained in simple, beginner-friendly language. Learn the lingo and trade with confidence.
The real rate of return on your crypto staking or lending, including compounding. For example, 10% APY on $1,000 USDT earns you ~$104.71 after one year with monthly compounding. Learn how to stake.
Any cryptocurrency that is not Bitcoin. Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and USDT are all altcoins. Thousands exist, each with different use cases.
Buying crypto on one exchange at a lower price and selling it on another at a higher price. P2P arbitrage is a common strategy — check AI Radar for live spreads.
The highest price a cryptocurrency has ever reached. For example, Bitcoin's ATH was over $69,000 in 2021. Often used to measure market sentiment.
A decentralized digital ledger that records all transactions across a network of computers. Think of it as a public notebook that anyone can verify but no one can erase.
The first and most valuable cryptocurrency, created in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto. Often called 'digital gold' — a store of value and hedge against inflation.
A token standard on the Binance Smart Chain (BNB Chain). Similar to ERC-20 but with lower fees. USDT, BUSD, and CAKE commonly use BEP-20.
A physical device (like Ledger or Trezor) that stores your crypto offline. Immune to hacks. Essential for long-term holding. See wallet guide.
A debit card linked to your crypto wallet that lets you spend USDT, BTC, or ETH anywhere. Compare crypto cards.
A crypto exchange run by a company that holds your funds (like Binance or Bybit). Easy to use but you don't control the private keys.
Financial services built on blockchain — lending, borrowing, trading — without banks or intermediaries. Runs on smart contracts.
A peer-to-peer exchange where you trade directly from your wallet (like Uniswap or PancakeSwap). No KYC required.
A common crypto motto. Never buy a coin based solely on a tip — investigate the project, team, and tokenomics yourself.
The most popular token standard on the Ethereum blockchain. USDT, UNI, and LINK all use ERC-20. Requires ETH for gas fees.
A platform where you buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies. Compare top exchanges with zero fees.
Government-issued currency like USD, EUR, RUB, or BRL. Not backed by a physical commodity. Crypto is often bought with fiat via P2P or bank transfer.
The emotional urge to buy a crypto asset when its price is rising rapidly. Often leads to buying at the top.
A split in a blockchain creating two separate versions. Bitcoin Cash (BCH) forked from Bitcoin in 2017. Can be 'hard' (permanent) or 'soft' (temporary).
The transaction cost paid to miners or validators on a blockchain. Ethereum gas fees vary based on network congestion — can be $1 or $50+.
A tiny unit of Ether (ETH) used to measure gas fees. 1 Gwei = 0.000000001 ETH. Common gas prices range from 10 to 100 Gwei.
A crypto slang term derived from a 2013 misspelling of 'hold'. Means buying and holding crypto long-term regardless of price volatility.
A wallet connected to the internet (like MetaMask or Trust Wallet). Convenient for daily use but more vulnerable than cold storage.
A fundraising method where new crypto projects sell tokens to early investors. Similar to an IPO but for crypto. High risk, high reward.
Identity verification required by centralized exchanges. You submit a passport/ID and selfie. Required by law in most countries. See KYC steps.
How easily an asset can be bought or sold without affecting its price. Bitcoin has high liquidity; obscure altcoins have low liquidity.
A popular brand of hardware (cold) wallets. Stores private keys offline. Learn about wallets.
The total value of a cryptocurrency: current price × circulating supply. Used to compare the size of different crypto projects.
The process of validating transactions and adding them to a blockchain. Miners solve complex math problems and earn BTC or other coins as reward.
Direct trading between two people without an intermediary. P2P trading offers zero fees and local payment methods.
A secret code that proves ownership of your crypto. Never share it. If you lose your private key, you lose your funds forever.
Your wallet address (a long string of letters and numbers). Share it to receive payments. Safe to publish.
A unique digital asset representing ownership of art, music, or collectibles on a blockchain. Unlike crypto, each NFT is one-of-a-kind.
A set of 12 or 24 words that can restore your entire wallet. Write it down on paper and store safely. Never enter it on any website.
A cryptocurrency pegged to a stable asset like the US dollar. USDT, USDC, and DAI are stablecoins. Perfect for saving and transferring value.
Locking your crypto to support a blockchain network and earn rewards. Staking USDT can earn 5-15% APY.
Self-executing code on a blockchain that automatically enforces agreements. The backbone of DeFi, NFTs, and dApps.
The token standard on the TRON blockchain. USDT on TRC-20 has very low fees (~$0.80) and is the most popular network for transfers.
The economic model of a cryptocurrency — supply, inflation rate, distribution, and utility. Important factor when evaluating a project.
Software or hardware that stores your crypto private keys. Choose the right wallet for your needs.
An entity that holds a large amount of cryptocurrency. Whale movements can significantly impact market prices.
Lending or staking your crypto on DeFi platforms to earn high returns. Yields vary from 2% to 100%+ APY but come with higher risk.
A cryptographic method that allows one party to prove something is true without revealing the underlying data. Used in privacy-focused blockchains and layer-2 scaling.
Continue with context
Use the guide to build a workflow: read the next concept, verify current public data, then compare exchange conditions before acting.
Market data is for research, not financial advice. Verify exchange terms and network conditions before acting. Risk disclosure
Explore our step-by-step guides or use our calculators to plan your investments.