Crypto Wiki

Abnormal Return

Abnormal return refers to unexpected profits from assets or securities within a specific time period. It signifies a deviation from normal or expected returns and is used to assess investment performance relative to the market or a benchmark.

Accumulation/Distribution Indicator

The A/D indicator measures the cumulative asset volume to reveal the price trend strength.

Airnode

Airnode is a tool for creating first-party oracles by seamlessly connecting smart contracts to off-chain APIs.

Algo Trading

Algo trading is the process of trading financial assets using trading algorithms and computers.

Algorithmic Stablecoin

An algorithmic stablecoin utilizes an underlying algorithm that adjusts the coin supply based on market conditions. When the price of the stablecoin rises, the algorithm generates additional coins, and conversely, when the price declines, the algorithm purchases coins from the market to stabilize the price.

All-Time-High (ATH)

The All-Time-High (ATH) is the highest price a specific crypto coin has ever reached.

All-Time-Low (ATL)

All-time-lows mark the lowest asset price registered in its entire trading history, which often coincides with the first price available.

Alpha

Alpha refers to a fund, strategy, or key information that leads to outperforming the expected market return.

Altcoin

An altcoin is any cryptocurrency that’s not Bitcoin or Ethereum.

Annualized Rate of Return

An annualized rate of return is a metric used to evaluate and monitor the performance of an investment over a specific period, typically a year. It provides a standardized way to measure and compare the returns of different investments, taking into account the duration of the investment and presenting the return as an annualized figure for easier comparison.

Arbitrageur

An arbitrageur is a trader engaging in arbitrage trading.

Aroon Indicator

The Aroon indicator is a technical indicator used to detect price trend changes and consolidation periods.

ASIC Resistance

ASIC resistance is the capacity of blockchains to undermine the benefits of mining on them using specialized mining equipment.

Assets Under Management

Assets under management are the total market value of assets held in a company or fund by clients.

Average Annual Return (AAR)

The Average Annual Return is the asset return percentage divided by the total years in a time period.

Backorder

A backorder is a term used to describe an order that cannot be fulfilled immediately due to insufficient product availability at the given time.

Bag

A Crypto Bag is a slang term used to describe a large quantity of a crypto or an individual’s total crypto portfolio.

Beacon Chain

The Beacon Chain was the first Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchain, using random validator nodes to create new Ethereum blocks.

Binary Code

Binary code is the most basic computer language, consisting only of 1s and 0s.

Bitcoin DApps

Bitcoin dApps are decentralized applications that run on Bitcoin-powered blockchains like Stacks and Rootstock Network.

Bitcoin Misery Index (BMI)

Bitcoin Misery Index is a sentiment indicator developed to track the attitudes of Bitcoin traders and investors through social sentiment analysis combined with technical analysis.

Bitcoin NFTs

Bitcoin NFTs are non-fungible tokens existing on the Bitcoin blockchain.

Bitcoin Pizza

Bitcoin Pizza is the term used to describe the well-known transaction in which an individual named Laszlo Hanyecz exchanged 10,000 Bitcoins for two pizzas, marking the initial real-world business transaction involving Bitcoin.

Bitcoin Unlimited

Discover Bitcoin Unlimited's Legacy and its Support for eCash (XEC) – Learn About Blockchain Advancements and Free Bitcoin Realities.

Black Swan Event

Black swan events refer to rare, large-scale occurrences leading to potentially disastrous market consequences.

BLAKE-256 Hash Function

Blake-256 is an efficient one-way function to encrypt data of any length in a 256-bit string.

Block Header

A block header is the part of the block that holds the elements required to create the next block in a blockchain and verify existing blocks.

Block Size

In the realm of blockchain technology, block size denotes the capacity of a single block within the chain to accommodate data related to transactions.

Block Trade

A block trade is a significant transaction involving the purchase or sale of securities that takes place outside of the regular open market. This type of trade often involves a financial intermediary known as a blockhouse, which assists investors in managing risks associated with the transaction.

Blockchain Transmission Protocol (BTP)

The Blockchain Transmission Protocol is an interoperability alternative to share data and assets across blockchains.

Blockchain Tribalism

Blockchain tribalism describes the tendency of individuals in the blockchain or crypto community to align themselves ideologically with specific blockchains or cryptocurrencies.

Bluesky Crypto Protocol

Bluesky is an open-source social media platform build by Jack Dorsey, the ex-CEO and founder of Twitter.

Bottomshelf Bitcoin

Bottomshelf Bitcoin podcast: Your guide to Bitcoin's essentials and insights from its vibrant community

Bull Market

Crypto bull markets are intervals of general expansion and price growth that last 1-2 years.

Buy Wall

A buy wall is one or many limit orders showing a steep increase in volume at a specific price.

Byron Phase

The Byron Phase is the first big development stage of the Cardano blockchain.

Censorship Resistance

Censorship resistance is the principle that anybody can use a blockchain network as long as they follow its rules and regulations.

Changpeng Zhao

Changpeng Zhao is the founder and former CEO of Binance, the largest crypto exchange by trading volume.

Chunk (NEAR)

In the NEAR protocol, a chunk refers to a portion of each block generated through the process of sharding.

Cold Wallet

A cold wallet is a cryptocurrency wallet that keeps your private keys offline for accessing your crypto on the blockchain.

Composable Token

A composable token refers to an ERC-998 token, an extension of non-fungible tokens that enables them to possess other non-fungible (ERC-721) and fungible (ERC-20) tokens.

Concentrated Liquidity

Concentrated liquidity refers to the capability of liquidity providers (LPs) to choose a specific price range along the curve to provide liquidity.

Consolidation In Crypto

Consolidation in crypto describes a period when cryptocurrency prices move within a narrow range, showing low volatility and volume after significant movements.

Cross Margin

Cross margin in trading and cryptocurrency is a risk management method that uses all available balances to cover potential losses.

Cross-Chain Communication

Cross-chain communication enables different blockchains to validate data and transactions without relying on a centralized third-party service.

Crypto Wallet

A crypto wallet is an app or device that lets your access and use your cryptocurrency.

Cryptocurrency Pairs

Cryptocurrency pairs use a second token to quote the first token price and trade for each other.

Cryptography

Cryptography is the science of hiding data using mathematical encryption algorithms.

Day Trading

Day trading in crypto involves buying and selling crypto assets within the same trading day, often multiple times.

Death Cross

A Death Cross is a trading chart term used when a shorter-term moving average for a cryptocurrency's price falls below a longer-term moving average. 

Decentralized Database

A trustless system of interconnected, geographically independent computers, not managed by any single entity and designed for storing and managing data.

Decentralized Exchange (DEX)

DEXs are blockchain applications that offer more tokens tradable instantly without a custodial entity.

Decentralized Network

A decentralized network is a collection of interconnected, geographically distributed, and independently controlled nodes.

Decryption

Decryption is the conversion process of reverting encrypted ciphertext into human-readable data.

DeFi Aggregator

The DeFi Aggregator is tool that bring together trades across various dApps into one place.

Deterministic Wallet

A deterministic wallet can generate and recover multiple crypto address keys from one seed phrase.

Dex Aggregator

DEX aggregators are a recent type of blockchain-based service that enables cryptocurrency traders to access a wide range of financial tools through a single interface. These aggregators often offer enhanced convenience by providing traders with access to multiple decentralized exchanges (DEXs), liquidity pools, and other related services.

Diamond Hands

Diamond hands refer to high risk tolerance and holding risky crypto assets despite steep losses or profits.

Digital Asset Ecosystem

A digital asset ecosystem is the combination of all technologies, participants, and processes supporting the existence, proper functioning, and exchange of digital assets.

Distributed Consensus

Distributed consensus ensures all computers in a blockchain agree on transaction records confirmed by the nodes.

Distribution Phase

The distribution phase denotes the opposite of the accumulation phase, characterized by a sideways market movement and range-bound behavior following an extended uptrend.

Documentation

Documentation is a component of token economies that stores comprehensive asset details on the blockchain.

Dual-Token Economy Model

The Dual-Token Economy Model involves two distinct tokens serving different purposes within the same blockchain ecosystem.

Edge Nodes

Edge Nodes are physical or virtual devices that act as a bridge between local networks and the outside world.

ERC-721

ERC-721 is a token standard for NFTs, tokens with unique attributes and market values.

Ethash

Ethash is the mining algorithm employed for proof-of-work consensus in Ethereum and ETH-based cryptocurrencies.

Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)

A Turing-complete virtual machine serves as the runtime environment for executing code precisely as intended, particularly for smart contracts.

Exchange

Cryptocurrency exchanges are platforms that enable customers to trade cryptocurrencies for fiat money or other digital currencies.

Flash Loan Attack

A flash loan attack is a type of attack targeting DeFi lending protocols offering flash loans.

Fraud Proof System

Fraud proof is amathematical proof providing evidence that a transaction on a Layer 2 blockchain is invalid.

Fully Diluted Value (FDV)

FDV is a metric that calculates a cryptocurrency project's total value by multiplying the total token supply by its current price.

Fundamental Analysis

Fundamental Analysis is the process of analyzing a company’s fundamentals to determine its market value.

Game Channels

Game channels are a technology that connects users off-chain to provide a faster and better infrastructure for blockchain-based games.

Gas Station Networks

GSN is a decentralized system that allows users to interact with dApps while paying gas fees in fiat, stablecoins, and other altcoins.

Geth

Geth (go-Ethereum) is Ethereum’s most popular node software implementation, built on the Go programming language.

Goguen Phase

Goguen Phase is phase 2 of the Cardano development roadmap, which will introduce smart contracts. 

Halving

The Bitcoin Halving is an event that happens every four yet that cuts the reward for mining Bitcoin transactions in half.

Hashgraph Consensus Mechanism

The hashgraph consensus is a more efficient, non-linear alternative to blockchain technology.

HODL

HODL involves holding or never selling cryptocurrencies as a passive, long-term investing strategy.

Honeyminer

Honeyminer is a cryptocurrency mining application that can be downloaded and used on various devices.

Hot Wallet

A hot wallet is an app or platform connected to the internet that allows you to send and receive cryptocurrency.

Initial Game Offering

An Initial Game Offering is a fundraising method used to raise capital in the blockchain gaming sector.

Input-Output Hong Kong (IOHK)

Input-Output Hong Kong is a software development company that helps businesses create and use blockchain-based products.

Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC)

Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) is a communication protocol that enables different blockchains to exchange messages and interact with one another.

Intermediary/Middleman

An intermediary is a person or entity that facilitates agreements or carries out directives between different parties.

Investment Vehicles (Crypto-tied)

Investment vehicles refer to the different asset classes in which investors allocate their money, aiming to increase the value of their investment portfolio over time.

IOU

IOU means “I Owe You” and indicates a debt owing in crypto and other assets.

Kimchi Premium

The Kimchi premium is the price difference of cryptocurrencies, typically Bitcoin, on South Korean exchanges vs foreign exchanges.

Laser Eyes

Laser eyes is a popular Twitter meme embraced by Bitcoin enthusiasts who aim to drive the price of BTC to new all-time highs.

Lightning Network

The Lightning Network is a second-layer protocol designed to enable off-chain Bitcoin transactions, which are not recorded on the blockchain.

LINK (Chainlink)

Chainlink is the biggest oracle provider in the decentralized finance (DeFi) and blockchain space.

Liquidity

Liquidity measures the ability to quickly exchange assets, like converting crypto to cash, without significantly impacting their price.

Liquidity Pool

Liquidity pools enable trading, lending, and other financial services in DeFi by pooling user assets to provide market liquidity and earn rewards.

Lower Low

A Lower Low is a trading term used for when the price of an asset falls lower than previous day, which itself was a low.

Mainnet

Mainnet is a fully developed and deployed blockchain protocol where transactions are broadcasted, verified, and recorded.

Market Capitalization

Market Capitalization represents the total value of a company's shares or a cryptocurrency's tradeable tokens.

MilliBitcoin

MilliBitcoin is a unit of measurement for BTC that is 1000 times smaller than one whole Bitcoin.

Mining as a Service (MaaS)

Cloud mining or mining-as-a-service enables users to lease the mining capacity of hardware from companies.

Mining Contract

A mining contract is for leasing crypto mining power in exchange for a fee.

Move-to-Earn

Move to earn is a term used to describe dApps that pay users for walking, running, or lifting weights.

Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD)

Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is a lagging indicator to identify momentum reversals and entry points.

Multi-Coin Wallet

Multi-level marketing (MLM) is a business model where sales teams, organized in a hierarchical structure, sell products on behalf of a company and earn commissions based on their sales performance.

Mutual Credit

Mutual credit is a network of multiple exchange participants where money is created internally and used as a medium of exchange.

Negative Volume Index (NVI)

A Network-Enhanced Virtual Machine (NEVM) combines the strengths of both the Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) networks.

On-Chain

Any activity that is recorded on a blockchain is on-chain.

On-Ledger Currency

A native currency minted and used exclusively on a blockchain ledger, such as Bitcoin.

Operating System (OS)

An operating system (OS) serves as an intermediary between hardware and users, managing software and resources.

P2P DEX

A P2P DEX is a type of decentralized exchange (DEX) specifically designed for direct peer-to-peer transactions.

PEG Ratio

The PEG ratio is an analytic tool traders and investors use to determine an asset’s value, be it crypto or stocks.

PRE-IDO

Pre-IDOs are funding rounds raised before the Initial DEX Offering.

Price Impact

Price impact is the amount by which the price of an asset changes after a trade happens.

Proof of Reserves

Proof of Reserves verify that exchanges hold all user assets and can handle mass withdrawals.

Proof-of-Spacetime

Proof of Spacetime is a consensus mechanism that ensures network participants store a piece of information for a continuous period of time.

Proof-of-Work (PoW)

PoW is a mechanism used to help achieve consensus on distributed networks by requiring participants to perform complex calculations.

Put Option

Put option is a securities contract that allows the buyer to sell an asset at a predetermined price before the contract expires.

Relative Strength Index (RSI)

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicator measures the speed and magnitude of price changes from 0 to 100.

Resistance (Line/Level)

Resistance levels tend to stop and revert to rising prices, requiring greater buying pressure to overcome them.

Reverse ICO

A Reverse ICO is the process through which an already established company issues a cryptocurrency.

Ring Miners

Ring miners are essential participants in the Loopring protocol, helping the Layer 2 solution operate without an order book.

Second-Layer Solutions

Second-layer solutions are blockchain networks built to scale the transaction throughput of classical Layer-1 blockchains and reduce gas fees.

Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU)

SAFU is an emergency fund created by Binance to insure for potential exchange losses, later turned into a term for "assets are safe".

Security Token

A security token represents a digital version of traditional securities.

Sell Wall

Sell walls represent a large volume of sell limit orders placed by whale traders to prevent prices from rising.

SHA-256

SHA-256 is a hashing algorithm from the SHA-2 family designed to produce a 256-bit hash output from any length of text.

Shielded Transaction

A shielded transaction is a type of blockchain transaction based on zero-knowledge proofs that shields two addresses for privacy.

Solidity

Solidity is a programming language created for the development of smart contracts deployed on the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).

Spoon (Blockchain)

A spoon in the blockchain occurs when the balances are copied to a new blockchain and converted into the utility token of the copy, which allows collaboration between the two while adding features.

Stablecoin Maximalist

Stablecoin maximalism predicts that stablecoins will dominate DeFi. Advocating this, Frax Finance plans to unlock trillions in its stablecoin ecosystem.

Stochastic Oscillator

Stochastic Oscillator is a technical indicator used to track price momentum, spot emerging trends, overbought and oversold conditions.

Supercomputer

A supercomputer is an advanced computing system that surpasses the capabilities of a standard general-purpose computer. It possesses significantly higher processing power and can tackle complex computations and data-intensive tasks.

Surge (Ethereum)

The Surge is a phase of Ethereum’s roadmap focused on scaling and improving transaction throughput.

Tendermint

Tendermint is a consensus mechanism that enables secure and consistent launching of applications across different machines.

Time-Weighted Automated Market Maker (TWAMM)

The Time-Weighted Automated Market Maker (TWAMM) allows DEXs to process large trades with minimal price impact and reduced gas fees.

Toll Bridge

A toll bridge, in the context of blockchain, refers to a smart contract-powered mechanism where users are required to pay a toll fee in the form of cryptocurrency tokens to access additional functionalities or services provided by a decentralized application or platform. The toll fee acts as a gateway or access control mechanism.

Trustless

A trustless environment refers to a system or network where participants do not need to trust each other, and transactions are verified through a decentralized consensus mechanism.

Vaporware

A cryptocurrency project that remains in a conceptual or planning stage and is never fully developed.

Wasabi Wallet

Wasabi wallet is an open-source, non-custodial Bitcoin wallet that emphasizes privacy and security of transactions.

Wash Trading

Wash trading involves artificially inflating trading volume to mislead markets and profit from short-selling.

Zero Knowledge Rollups

Zero Knowledge Rollups are layer 2 solutions that enhance blockchain scalability by offloading computation and keeping transaction data on-chain.