Your dictionary to everything crypto
Make a good impression. Learn all of the most important crypto and financial terms and jargons here.
10-K
A 10-K is a detailed report filed by a publicly traded company annually about its financial performance and is required by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This report is more comprehensive and detailed than a company’s annual report sent to shareholders. A 10-K contains information such as the company’s history, organisational structure, financial statements, earnings per share, subsidiaries, executive compensation, and other essential data. The 10-K is required to keep the investors aware of a company’s financial condition, allowing them to have all the information to buy or sell shares in a corporation or before investing in its corporate bonds. Read More
10-Q
This is a comprehensive report necessitated by the US Security and Exchange Commission that all public companies must share at the end of their first three quarters. This report provides a detailed overview of the company's financial performance, including unaudited financial statements, and discusses the company's financial condition, operations, and risks. It is a critical resource for investors and analysts, offering insights into the company's health and prospects. Read More
51% attack
A 51% Attack, also known as a Majority Attack, occurs when a malicious actor or a group working together gains control of more than 50% of a blockchain network's total mining power (hashrate). This control allows them to disrupt the network's integrity and operations in several harmful ways. The potential actions of an attacker with such control include: Read More
Absolute advantage
Absolute advantage occurs when a company or country can produce more of a product using the same amount of resources or produce the same amount of a product using fewer resources than its competitors. In contrast, comparative advantage refers to the ability to produce a product at a lower opportunity cost than others. Opportunity cost represents the potential benefits lost when choosing one option over another. While absolute advantage focuses on efficiency and productivity in using resources, comparative advantage centres on the cost advantage gained by producing goods more efficiently relative to other choices that an individual, investor, or business misses out on when choosing one alternative over another. Read More
Address
An address is similar to a traditional bank account. It is a unique destination through which crypto users can send and receive digital currencies. It usually consists of alphanumeric keys. Unlike bank accounts, which are tied to personal information and managed by financial institutions, cryptocurrency addresses offer a higher degree of anonymity and are managed by users. A cryptocurrency address is typically a long string of alphanumeric characters that uniquely identifies the destination or source of a digital currency transaction. This string is derived from cryptographic keys, ensuring a secure way to execute transactions on the blockchain. Read More
Address Delegation
A person, rather than holding some crypto tokens idly in a wallet, entrusts it to a staker so it can be used to validate transactions. Address delegation is a mechanism within the cryptocurrency ecosystem that allows token holders to participate indirectly in the network's consensus process. This process is particularly relevant in blockchain networks that use Proof of Stake (PoS) or its variants (such as Delegated Proof of Stake, DPoS) as their consensus mechanism. Instead of merely keeping their tokens idle in a digital wallet, token holders can delegate their tokens to a validator, also known as a staker, who is responsible for validating transactions and maintaining the integrity of the blockchain. Read More
AFK
AFK is an acronym for “Away From Keyboard”. It is used on social media platforms like Twitter where people share their trading activity to notify users that they would be away for some time. In the context of crypto, when someone posts "AFK" in relation to their trading activity, it serves as a notification to their followers or audience that they will be temporarily unavailable or not actively monitoring the markets. Read More
Air Gapping
Air gapping is a security mechanism that ensures a computer is isolated from unsecured networks to prevent hacking attacks. An air-gapped computer is physically segregated from other computers and cannot connect wirelessly or physically with other network or computer devices. Air gaps help protect the computer from malicious attacks or ransomware. When there is a need to make a transfer on the air-gapped computer, the data is copied to a removable device such as a USB device. The user then connects the USB device to another computer. This ensures that only a few trusted users can access the computer, protecting it from cyber-attacks. Read More
Airdrop
An airdrop refers to the free distribution of a new token or cryptocurrency to the wallets of active community members, primarily as a marketing strategy to boost the token's popularity and encourage widespread usage. Blockchain startups often employ this approach to enhance awareness and adoption of their digital assets. Typically, to qualify for an airdrop, participants may need to complete specific tasks such as downloading an application, referring friends, or holding a certain amount of another cryptocurrency. Airdrops serve not only as a promotional tactic but also as a way to incentivise engagement within the crypto community. Some airdrops also aim to distribute governance tokens, granting holders voting rights on the platform further integrating them into the ecosystem's development and decision-making processes. Read More
Algorithm
An algorithm is a set of rules embedded into computer software to enable it to perform specific functions. In the crypto space, an algorithm is a set of predefined rules embedded within the computer software, allowing it to execute specific functions crucial for the operation of blockchain networks. Among these, consensus algorithms stand out for their role in ensuring all network participants agree on the validity of transactions, thereby maintaining the blockchain's integrity and security without the need for a central authority. This approach not only streamlines the process of verifying transactions but also enhances the scalability and efficiency of the network, making cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum possible and functional on a global scale. Read More
All-Time High (ATH)
An All-Time High is the highest price ever attained by a cryptocurrency. For instance, Bitcoin reached an ATH price of $68,680 on Nov 09, 2021. The ATH of a cryptocurrency can serve as a measurement of market sentiment and investor enthusiasm. When a cryptocurrency reaches its ATH, it often indicates strong investor confidence and a bullish market outlook. Additionally, ATH provides a historical benchmark for cryptocurrencies, offering investors and analysts a point of reference to assess the asset's performance over time. It helps in understanding the growth trajectory and volatility of the cryptocurrency. Read More
All-Time Low (ATL)
An All-Time Low (ATL) is the lowest price ever attained by a cryptocurrency. This metric is significant for investors and analysts as it provides a historical benchmark, indicating the lowest valuation the market has assigned to a particular digital asset. Understanding the ATL helps in assessing the risk and potential of an investment, as it offers insight into the asset's volatility and market sentiment during its least favourable period. By examining the ATL, stakeholders can gauge the resilience of a cryptocurrency, how it has recovered from its lowest point, and its potential for future growth or decline, making it a crucial piece of data in the complex puzzle of cryptocurrency investment analysis. Read More
Alphanumeric
Alphanumeric refers to a string of characters with alphabets and numbers. This classification includes all the letters from A to Z (in both uppercase and lowercase) and the digits from 0 to 9. Alphanumeric strings are widely used in various contexts, such as creating passwords, identification numbers, and coding systems, because they offer a higher level of complexity and variation than strings composed solely of letters or numbers. This blend of alphabetic and numeric characters enables the creation of more unique and secure identifiers, enhancing the ability to store and retrieve information efficiently in databases, systems, and secure processes. Read More
Altcoin
Altcoin, a term derived from "alternative coin," refers to any cryptocurrency that is not Bitcoin. These altcoins were developed with the intention of improving upon or offering different functionalities and features compared to Bitcoin. While all altcoins fall under the broad category of cryptocurrencies, they distinguish themselves by offering various technological advancements, economic models, or use cases, ranging from enhanced transaction speeds and privacy features to programmability and smart contract capabilities. Examples of well-known altcoins include Ethereum (ETH), Tether (USDT), Ripple (XRP), Cardano (ADA) and several others. Read More
AMA
This is an acronym for “Ask Me Anything” sessions held by crypto experts for users to ask questions and learn more about the crypto space. AMA is a popular format of interactive sessions where experts in the cryptocurrency field engage with the community, allowing individuals to pose questions and gain insights directly from seasoned professionals. These sessions serve as an invaluable resource for newcomers and veterans in the crypto world, offering a platform to discuss trends, technologies, investment strategies, and the future outlook of digital currencies. Read More
Annual report
An annual report is a comprehensive documentation submitted by a company detailing the company’s performance in the preceding year. It often includes information such as a letter from the CEO, performance highlights, objectives and goals and financial reports. Additionally, the report highlights key performance indicators, achievements, and future goals, offering a clear snapshot of the company's financial health through detailed financial statements such as income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. Read More
Anti-Money Laundering (AML)
AML is a set of international laws to prevent and punish money laundering crimes through fiat currencies and cryptocurrencies. AML measures require financial institutions and other regulated entities to implement stringent policies, including customer due diligence (CDD), Know Your Customer (KYC), transaction monitoring, and reporting suspicious activities to relevant authorities. These protocols aim to identify, assess, and manage the risks associated with money laundering and terrorist financing. AML efforts play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the international financial system, protecting it from being undermined by illicit money flows. Read More
API
API is an acronym for “Application Programming Interface”, which refers to a piece of code that allows applications to share information. It acts as a bridge between different software programs, enabling them to communicate with each other without the need for developers to share the entire codebase. APIs are crucial in today's digital world as they allow for the integration of third-party services, enhancing functionality and user experience. Read More
Arbitrage
Arbitrage refers to taking advantage of price differences of the same currency, security, or commodity in two or more markets. For example, crypto prices on African exchanges can be different from US exchanges. An arbitrage trader would buy the asset at a lower price on one exchange and sell it at a higher price on another, making a profit from the price discrepancy. The goal is to exploit market inefficiencies and quickly capitalize on the variations in cryptocurrency prices between different trading platforms. Read More
Ashdraked
Ashdraked is the total loss of a trader’s investment or capital resulting often from shorting of bitcoin. The phenomenon was named after a Romanian Bitcoin trader known by the pseudonym “Lord Ashdrake”. Read More
ASIC
This stands for “Application Specific Integrated Circuit”, which is designed for a specific purpose like mining. An ASIC is a specialized computer chip designed for a specific task, like mining cryptocurrencies. In simple terms, it's a custom-built hardware that focuses on efficiently performing a particular job, such as solving complex mathematical problems to validate and secure transactions on a blockchain. In the context of cryptocurrency, ASICs are commonly used for mining, providing higher processing power and energy efficiency compared to general-purpose computers. Read More
ASIC Resistant
ASIC resistant refers to cryptocurrencies designed to prevent users from mining with ASIC. It is a design or algorithm of a blockchain that aims to prevent or discourage the use of specialized mining hardware known as Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). ASICs are highly efficient and powerful devices built specifically for mining certain cryptocurrencies, giving their owners a significant advantage over miners using standard computer hardware (CPUs or GPUs). Read More
Ask
Ask refers to the lowest price a seller is willing to sell an asset. It represents the minimum amount of money or another asset that someone is willing to accept when selling a cryptocurrency. Read More
Ask Price
The Ask Price is the lowest price in which a seller is willing to accept for the sale of an asset. It represents the minimum amount a seller is willing to accept when someone wants to buy a specific cryptocurrency. This price is part of the order book on a cryptocurrency exchange, where buyers can see the current asking prices from sellers. Read More
Asset Allocation
This is an investment strategy investors use to minimise losses by dividing their investment portfolio among different asset classes such as stocks, crypto, real estate, bonds, etc. Proper asset allocation helps investors balance potential gains and losses, aiming to achieve a diversified and resilient portfolio. This approach is crucial for managing the inherent volatility in the cryptocurrency market and aligning with an investor's risk tolerance and financial goals. Read More
Atomic Swap
A direct exchange of one type of cryptocurrency for another on a different blockchain or off-chain, without centralized exchange as an intermediary. It's called "atomic" because the swap either happens entirely or not at all, ensuring that both parties involved get their agreed-upon cryptocurrencies simultaneously or none at all. This process occurs through smart contracts, making it secure and trustless. Read More
Automated Market Maker (AMM)
AMM is an automated system that manages and provides liquidity to validators in a liquid pool. With AMMs, users can trade directly from their wallets without needing a centralized intermediary, and liquidity providers earn fees by depositing their assets into these pools. AMMs play a crucial role in decentralized finance (DeFi) by providing liquidity and facilitating automated and permissionless trading. Read More
Automatic Replay Protection
A protective mechanism implemented by Bitcoin Cash Developers to protect against replay attacks. A replay attack is when hackers intercept sensitive information and manipulate the information to steal funds. In essence, Automatic Replay Protection is a security feature that helps prevent accidental or malicious duplication of transactions across different networks or chains. Read More
Bag
Crypto slang for a large quantity of a specific cryptocurrency. Alternatively (but less frequently) used to refer to the contents of an individual's crypto portfolio. When an investor owns a large quantity of a specific coin or token, they are said to be "holding a bag" of that asset which usually goes hand in hand with the overall sentiment that the value of the asset will increase over time. Read More
Bag holder
An investor who continues to hold large amounts of a specific coin or token, regardless of its performance, even if its value declines significantly. This often happens if the investor strongly believes that the asset’s value will eventually recover and refuses to sell it at a loss. The sentiment around the term mostly has a negative connotation as it implies that the investor is holding out of stubbornness or hope rather than making strategic decisions based on market conditions. Read More
Bagholder
A crypto slang used to refer to an investor who continuously holds large quantities of cryptocurrencies regardless of their performance or price changes. This often happens if the investor strongly believes that the asset’s value will eventually recover and refuses to sell it at a loss. The sentiment around the term mostly has a negative connotation as it implies that the investor is holding out of stubbornness or hope rather than making strategic decisions based on market conditions. Read More
Balance Sheet
A balance sheet is a financial statement detailing a company’s assets, liabilities and shareholders' equity at a specific period. In cryptocurrency, assets would include several holdings of different coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum or stablecoins, as well as any other digital assets like non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Liabilities may include loans taken against crypto holdings, debts or obligations. Finally, equity refers to any amount belonging to the investor after liabilities have been paid or deducted from the assets. Essentially, it shows the true worth of your holdings. Read More
Batch Auction
This refers to the accumulation of individual orders, which are grouped together and executed simultaneously. Batch auctions ensure that large amounts of trades are done effectively and fairly at the same time, avoiding price changes that are inevitable if each order is carried out one at a time. These batch auctions are commonly used in decentralised exchanges (DEXs) to improve price fairness and reduce transaction costs. Read More
Bear
A person who expects the market to decline. Bears are generally viewed as pessimists with a negative view of future market performance and often take actions such as selling assets or shorting them (betting that the price will fall), aiming to profit from downward price movements. Read More
Bear Market
This occurs when there is a prolonged decrease in the value of a cryptocurrency or asset. It is typically called a bear market when there is a decline of 20% or more from recent highs over an extended period. Read More
Bear put spread
This is an options strategy an investor sets in place when there is an expected moderate-to-large decline in the price of an asset, and the investor wants to minimise the losses from holding the asset. Read More
Bear Trap
A trick played by crypto traders to manipulate the price of an asset so that it seems there is a price decline in order to make more profit. As a result, these traders sell their holdings or open short positions (bets that the price will continue to fall). However, the price quickly reverses and rises instead, causing losses for those who sold or shorted the asset. Read More
Bearish
When the sentiments surrounding a cryptocurrency predict a price drop, it is said to be bearish. This usually causes traders to be pessimistic about an asset’s future performance, leading to increased pressure to sell to avoid losses before the price drops. Read More
BearWhale
A person who holds a large quantity of cryptocurrencies and uses that power to drive down the price of cryptocurrencies to make more profit. The term combines "bear," referring to the expectation of falling prices, and "whale," a term for someone with a large holding of an asset. Read More
Bid
Bid is the highest price a buyer will pay for an asset at any given time. When you place a bid, you offer to buy the asset at that price, and if a seller agrees to that price, the transaction occurs. Read More
Bid-Ask Spread
This refers to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay for an asset and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for the sale of that asset. The spread itself is a key indicator of the liquidity of an asset. In highly liquid markets, such as major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or stocks like Apple, the spread tends to be small because many buyers and sellers are actively trading, leading to tighter pricing. On the other hand, in markets with lower liquidity or more volatility, the spread can widen, meaning there’s a larger gap between what buyers are willing to pay and what sellers are asking for. Read More
Bitcoin
Bitcoin is the world's first peer-to-peer decentralised digital currency, created in 2009 by an unknown person or group of persons known as Satoshi Nakamoto. It's also called a cryptocurrency for its use of cryptography to secure the network and make transactions pseudonymous. With Bitcoin, you don’t need to go through a bank, clearinghouse, or third party to use money. Read More
Bitcoin ATM
This is similar to the idea of a traditional ATM, but you can withdraw Bitcoin. Usually, Bitcoin ATMs have high fees for their convenience but unlike traditional ATMs that dispense physical currency, Bitcoin ATMs connect to the internet and facilitate cryptocurrency transactions by allowing customers to deposit cash or card payments in exchange for Bitcoin or vice versa. Read More
Bitcoin Cash
Bitcoin Cash is a cryptocurrency forked (a change or update to the underlying software of a blockchain, which creates a split in the network) from Bitcoin. Bitcoin Cash offers a larger block size, which allows miners to process more transactions per block, reducing transaction costs. This makes Bitcoin Cash more suitable for everyday transactions, like buying goods and services, compared to Bitcoin, which is often considered more of a store of value. Despite being derived from Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash operates independently with its own blockchain and network. Read More
Bitcoin Evangelist
Refers to a person who is passionate about Bitcoin and is dedicated to spreading knowledge about Bitcoin by actively promoting its use, adoption, and understanding. Bitcoin evangelists typically engage in activities such as public speaking, writing blogs, sharing news on social media, or participating in discussions to educate others about Bitcoin. They believe in the transformative power of Bitcoin and advocate for its widespread acceptance in everyday transactions and long-term investments. Some well-known Bitcoin evangelists are public figures in the crypto space, such as Andreas Antonopoulos, who regularly speaks about Bitcoin's philosophy and technical aspects. Read More
Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP)
A design document for introducing new features to Bitcoin. It is a formal document used by the Bitcoin community to suggest changes, enhancements, or new features to the Bitcoin protocol. These proposals are submitted by developers and are reviewed by the broader Bitcoin community, including other developers, miners, and customers. Read More
Bitcoin Maximalist
Refers to a person who believes bitcoin is superior to other digital coins and it is the only cryptocurrency needed. Read More
BitLicense
A business license issued by the New York State Department of Financial Services to firms in crypto-related activities. It regulates businesses that engage in buying, selling, or transferring digital assets, including Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The BitLicense was introduced in 2015 to provide oversight and consumer protection in the rapidly growing cryptocurrency industry. Read More
Block
This is a single digital record created within a blockchain. Each block is a continuation of the previous block, carrying all the transactions earlier recorded, and when linked together these become a chain of blocks filled with information, blockchain. A block contains several key components: Read More
Block
This is a single digital record created within a blockchain. Each block is a continuation of the previous block, carrying all the transactions earlier recorded, and when linked together, these become a chain of blocks filled with information, referred to as the blockchain. Read More
Block Confirmation
This refers to adding a transaction to a block of transactions for verification. When a transaction is included in a block, it receives its first confirmation, meaning it is now part of the permanent blockchain record. As more blocks are added after it, each one provides an additional confirmation, further solidifying the transaction's validity. Read More
Block Explorer
An online tool used to view transactions that have taken place on the blockchain. It provides detailed information on blocks, addresses, and transactions. It acts as a search engine for blockchain networks, enabling users to look up specific details about the state of the blockchain. Read More
Block Height
It refers to a block’s location in the blockchain, which is measured by how many blocks precede it. The first block in any blockchain, known as the genesis block, has a height of 0. Every subsequent block added to the chain increases the height by 1. For example, if a blockchain has 500 blocks, the height of the latest block is 500. Read More
Block Reward
When a Bitcoin miner finds a block, he receives newly minted bitcoins, which are known as block rewards. In Proof of Work (PoW) systems like Bitcoin, miners use computational power to solve complex cryptographic puzzles. When a miner solves the puzzle and successfully mines a block, they are rewarded with newly created cryptocurrency, known as the block reward. Read More
Block Size Limit
This refers to the maximum number of data (transactions) that may be included in a single block on a blockchain. It is typically measured in megabytes (MB) and determines how many transactions can be processed and recorded in one block. For example, Bitcoin has a block size limit of 1 MB, which means each block can only contain up to 1 MB of transaction data. This limit helps to control the speed and efficiency of transaction processing on the network. Read More
Blockchain
This is a string of ongoing digital records created within a distributed network. Each block is a continuation of the previous block, carrying all the transactions earlier recorded, and when linked together, these become a chain of blocks filled with information, referred to as the blockchain. Read More
Bloodbath
A market scenario where there is a sudden, massive, and widespread decline in asset prices. During a bloodbath, the value of most cryptocurrencies sharply drops, often triggered by panic selling, negative market sentiment, regulatory news, or broader economic conditions. This leads to significant losses for investors across the board. Read More
Blue chip stock
A blue-chip stock refers to a large, well-established company with a longstanding reputation for quality, reliability, and financial stability. These companies have typically existed for an extended period, demonstrating their ability to thrive regardless of market conditions. Many blue-chip companies reward their investors by paying regular dividends, making them attractive to those seeking steady income as well as long-term growth. Read More
Blue-sky laws
Blue-sky laws are state-level anti-fraud regulations designed to protect investors from deceptive sales practices and fraudulent securities offerings. These laws require issuers of securities to register their offerings and provide detailed disclosures, ensuring transparency and accountability. Read More
Bollinger Bands
Bollinger Bands are a popular technical analysis tool used by traders to assess market volatility and identify potential price movements. They consist of three lines: a middle band representing a simple moving average (SMA), and two outer bands plotted above and below the SMA. The outer bands are based on standard deviations from the average, which expand during periods of high volatility and contract during periods of low volatility. Read More
Bond
A bond is a fixed-income financial instrument representing a loan made by an investor to a borrower, typically a government or corporation. It is essentially a promise by the issuer to repay the principal amount of the loan, along with periodic interest payments, over a specified period. Read More
Bond market
The bond market, also known as the debt market or fixed-income market, is a marketplace where investors buy and sell bonds. This market serves as a critical component of the global financial system, enabling governments, corporations, and other entities to raise capital by issuing debt securities to investors. Read More
Book value
Book value refers to the accounting value of a company’s assets as recorded on its balance sheet. It represents the net value a company would theoretically realise if it sold all its assets and used the proceeds to settle its liabilities. Read More
Bots
Bots, or trading bots, are software programmes designed to automate the buying and selling of cryptocurrencies. These tools execute trades on behalf of users based on predefined algorithms or market conditions, enabling traders to respond quickly to price movements and execute strategies without constant manual intervention. Read More
Bounty
A bounty refers to a reward offered to individuals for completing specific tasks or actions within the cryptocurrency ecosystem. These tasks can vary widely and often include activities such as promoting a project on social media, reporting software bugs, translating documents, or participating in community development initiatives. Read More
Broker
A broker is a financial intermediary that facilitates transactions between investors and securities exchanges. Brokers act as a bridge, enabling individuals and institutions to buy and sell financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, and other securities. Read More
BTD
BTD, an acronym for "Buy The Dip," is a popular slang term used in the cryptocurrency and financial markets to encourage investors to purchase digital tokens or assets during a price decline. The idea behind this phrase is that a drop in price presents a buying opportunity, allowing investors to acquire assets at a discount in anticipation of a future rebound. Read More
Bubble
A bubble refers to a market condition where the price of an asset, such as housing, stocks, gold, or cryptocurrencies, becomes significantly overinflated, often due to excessive speculation and investor enthusiasm. In a bubble, asset prices rise rapidly over a short period, reaching levels far beyond their intrinsic or sustainable value. Read More
Bug
A bug is an error, flaw, or fault within a software program that causes it to behave unexpectedly or prevents it from functioning correctly. Bugs can range from minor glitches that affect usability to critical issues that compromise functionality or security. Read More
Bug Bounty
A bug bounty is a reward offered to individuals who identify and report issues, vulnerabilities, or exploits in a program’s code. This initiative is commonly employed by cryptocurrency companies and blockchain projects to encourage ethical hackers and developers to help improve the security and functionality of their platforms. Read More
Bug Exploit
A bug exploit is a targeted attack that takes advantage of a software vulnerability or flaw to compromise a system's security, functionality, or performance. Exploits are often used by attackers to gain unauthorised access, steal data, disrupt operations, or execute malicious code within the affected system. Read More
BUIDL
BUIDL is a deliberate misspelling of “build,” inspired by the cryptocurrency slang “HODL.” It emphasises the importance of actively contributing to the blockchain ecosystem rather than passively holding cryptocurrencies in a wallet. Read More
Bull
A bull is an investor or trader who believes that the market, a specific asset, or an overall sector will experience a rise in value. This optimistic outlook leads them to be “bullish” about the market, often resulting in investment strategies aimed at capitalising on anticipated upward trends. Read More
Bull call spread
A bull call spread is an options trading strategy used by investors who anticipate a moderate increase in the price of an asset. The strategy involves buying a call option at a lower strike price while simultaneously selling a call option at a higher strike price, both with the same expiration date. Read More
Bull Market
A bull market refers to a market condition characterised by rising prices or the expectation of price increases for assets such as stocks, cryptocurrencies, or commodities. It reflects widespread optimism, increased investor confidence, and strong market momentum, often driven by favourable economic conditions, robust earnings reports, or positive sentiment. Read More
Bull Trap
A bull trap occurs when the price of a declining asset temporarily reverses and appears to increase, luring optimistic investors into believing that a sustained upward trend is beginning. However, this rise is short-lived, and the asset's price resumes its decline, often leaving those who bought during the rally at a loss. Read More
Bullish
The term bullish refers to a positive market sentiment where investors or traders anticipate a price increase for a cryptocurrency or other asset. When a cryptocurrency is described as bullish, it indicates widespread optimism and confidence that its value will rise, often based on favourable market trends, news, or technical indicators. Read More
Burn
Burning refers to the process of permanently removing a cryptocurrency coin or token from circulation, effectively making it unusable. This is typically achieved by sending the tokens to a specialised wallet address, known as a "burn address," which is designed to be inaccessible. Read More
Burned Tokens
Burned tokens are digital tokens that have been permanently removed from circulation through a process known as token burning. This involves transferring the tokens to an inaccessible wallet address, often referred to as a "burn address," ensuring they can no longer be used, traded, or recovered. Read More
Buy the F**king Dip (BFID)
BTFD is a colloquial and unsavoury slang term used in trading communities to encourage people to purchase a cryptocurrency during a price dip. The phrase reflects a belief that the dip is temporary and presents an opportunity to buy the asset at a discount before its value rises again. Read More
Buy-and-hold strategy
The buy-and-hold strategy is a long-term investment approach where an investor purchases an asset and retains it with the expectation that its value will appreciate over time. This strategy is based on the belief that, despite short-term market fluctuations, assets such as stocks, cryptocurrencies, or real estate tend to grow in value over the long run. Read More
Buy/Sell Tax
A buy/sell tax is a fee imposed on cryptocurrency transactions, where a predetermined percentage of the transaction amount is deducted and transferred to a specific wallet address or purpose. This tax is applied whenever a user buys or sells a cryptocurrency. Read More
Buy/Sell Wall
A buy/sell wall refers to a large order placed by a cryptocurrency whale (a trader or investor holding a significant amount of tokens) to buy or sell a token at a specific price. These walls are displayed on the order book of a cryptocurrency exchange and represent significant resistance to price movement. Read More
Byzantine Fault
A Byzantine fault refers to a failure in a computer system, particularly in distributed computing or blockchain networks, where a component behaves unpredictably or maliciously, and its failure is not easily detectable by other parts of the system. This type of fault poses a significant challenge because it may send conflicting or false information to different components, disrupting consensus and system reliability. Read More
Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT)
Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT) is a feature in computer systems, particularly distributed systems and blockchains, that enables them to reach consensus and continue functioning correctly even if some of their components fail or act maliciously. It ensures that the system can handle Byzantine faults, where nodes provide conflicting or unreliable information. Read More
Byzantine Generals Problem
The Byzantine Generals Problem is a theoretical scenario in distributed computing that illustrates the challenges of achieving unanimous agreement among members of a group when some members cannot be trusted or their messages cannot be verified. It is named after a hypothetical situation where a group of Byzantine generals must coordinate their attack or retreat, but some may act dishonestly or fail to communicate reliably. Read More
Call feature
This refers to a clause in a bond agreement that allows the bond issuer to buy back the bonds at a set price within a fixed time frame. The call feature provides flexibility to the issuer, enabling them to redeem the bonds before their maturity date, typically to take advantage of favorable interest rate changes. For example, if interest rates decrease, the issuer can refinance the debt at a lower cost by calling the bonds and issuing new ones at a lower interest rate. Read More
Call option
This is a feature in a contract between a buyer and seller that allows the buyer to purchase a specific stock at a fixed price until a pre-defined expiration date. A call option gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to purchase the stock, enabling them to potentially profit if the stock's market price rises above the fixed price (called the strike price) during the contract period. The buyer pays a premium to the seller for this right. For example, if a stock's current market price is $100, and the buyer purchases a call option with a strike price of $110 for $5, they can exercise the option if the stock price exceeds $115 (strike price + premium). If the price remains below $110, the buyer can let the option expire, losing only the premium paid. Read More
Call options
Call options are financial contracts that give an option buyer the right, but not the obligation, to purchase a stock, bond, commodity, or other asset at a specific price. This specific price is called the strike price, and the right lasts until the option's expiration date. To gain this right, the buyer pays a fee known as a premium. If the market price of the asset rises above the strike price, the buyer can exercise the option of buying the asset at the lower price and potentially selling it at the higher market price for a profit. If the market price stays below the strike price, the buyer can let the option expire, only losing the premium paid. Call options are commonly used by traders to speculate on price increases or by investors to lock in a favorable purchase price for the future. Read More
Candlesticks
A graph type that shows the change in price over time. Each candle shows the opening price, closing price, high, and low. This graph is also called as “candles”. Read More
Cap
An abbreviation for market capitalisation. Read More
Capital
Capital is essentially the money or other resources set aside specifically for investment or financial growth. For example, if someone decides to buy stocks, cryptocurrency, or real estate, the amount they plan to spend on these purchases is their capital. It could be in the form of cash, savings, or other liquid assets. It can also take different forms, including: Read More
Capital gain
This refers to the profit an investor makes from selling an asset such as crypto, stocks, bond, and real estate. Capital gain is when the asset's selling price is higher than the asset's cost price. For example, if an investor buys Bitcoin for $30,000 and later sells it for $40,000, the $10,000 difference represents the capital gain. Capital gains are an important measure of an investor’s return on investment. Read More
Capital gains tax
A capital gains tax is a levy issued on the profit an investor makes from the sale of an asset by the government. This tax applies to the difference between the asset's selling price and its original purchase price, provided the sale results in a gain. The rate of taxation often depends on factors such as: Read More
Capital loss
An investor incurs capital loss when an asset has decreased in value and is sold for less than its purchase price. Capital loss occurs when the selling price of an asset, such as stocks, real estate, or cryptocurrencies, is lower than the original purchase price. For example, if an investor buys Bitcoin for $50,000 and later sells it for $40,000, the $10,000 difference represents the capital loss. While capital loss represents a financial setback, it can also provide strategic tax advantages for investors managing their portfolios. Read More
Cash
A physical form of a currency, such as banknotes or coins. Cash is the most liquid form of money, often used for day-to-day transactions due to its simplicity and universal acceptance. Cash includes tangible money that can be used directly for transactions, such as: Read More
Cash flow statement
A cash flow statement is a report that details the amount of cash inflows and exits in a company. It provides insights into how a company generates and uses cash, highlighting its liquidity and financial health. The cash flow statement is divided into three main sections: Read More
Casper
Casper refers to the Ethereum Proof of Stake (PoS) Protocol that was designed to replace Proof of Work (PoW). Casper was introduced as a key component of Ethereum's transition to Ethereum 2.0, aiming to make the network more energy-efficient, scalable, and secure. In the PoS system, validators are chosen to create new blocks and confirm transactions based on the amount of cryptocurrency they have staked (locked up) as collateral, rather than competing through energy-intensive computations like in PoW. Casper also introduced penalties for validators who act dishonestly or go offline, ensuring greater accountability and network stability. This protocol marks a significant evolution in blockchain technology by reducing environmental impact and encouraging more decentralized participation. Read More
CBDC
An acronym for “Central Bank Digital Currency” which refers to a digital currency issued by the central bank of a nation. Their value is pegged to the local currency. CBDCs are digital versions of a country's official currency, designed to combine the benefits of digital payments with the stability and trust of traditional fiat money. Unlike cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, CBDCs are centrally regulated and issued by the country's central bank. They can be used for everyday transactions, much like cash or bank transfers, but with enhanced efficiency and traceability. For example, Nigeria's eNaira is an example of CBDCs. Governments adopt CBDCs to promote financial inclusion, reduce transaction costs, and enhance the effectiveness of monetary policies. Read More
Central bank
A central bank is a monetary authority in a state that oversees the monetary policy and is responsible for issuing fiat currencies. Central banks play a crucial role in maintaining the stability of a country’s financial system. They manage the supply of money, regulate interest rates, and ensure smooth functioning of financial markets. Central banks also act as lenders of last resort to commercial banks during financial crises. Read More
Central ledger
A ledger used in centralised entities to keep record of financial transactions. A central ledger is a single, authoritative database maintained by a central entity, such as a bank, government agency, or financial institution. It records all transactions within the system, ensuring that balances and transfers are accurate and consistent. Unlike decentralized ledgers (such as those used in blockchain systems), a central ledger relies on a trusted third party to manage and validate transactions. For example, a bank’s internal system that tracks customer deposits, withdrawals, and transfers is a type of central ledger. While efficient and straightforward, central ledgers are often criticized for being vulnerable to fraud, errors, and misuse due to their reliance on a single controlling entity. Read More
Centralised
An organization that only has a small number of nodes in one place is said to be centralized. This organization is likely to hold a majority of its coin or token. In a centralized system, control and decision-making are concentrated in a single authority or a small group, which manages the system’s operations, assets, and governance. This structure contrasts with decentralized systems, where power is distributed across multiple independent nodes. In the context of cryptocurrencies or blockchain projects, centralization means that key processes, such as validating transactions or managing reserves, are controlled by the organization or a select few participants. While centralized systems are often faster and easier to manage, they can be more prone to risks like censorship, single points of failure, and reduced transparency. Examples of centralized entities include traditional banks, centralized exchanges, or DeFi projects where the development team retains significant control over the network or token supply. Read More
Centralized Exchange (CEX)
Centralized Exchange (CEX) Read More
Chaffing
A cryptography technique used to maintain confidentiality and security without the need for encryption over an unsecured network. Read More
Chain Link
Chain Link refers to decentralized computer nodes that provide essential data and information for blockchain smart contracts. Read More
Chain split
Chain split is another term for fork. A chain split occurs when a blockchain network diverges into two separate chains due to differences in consensus or updates to the protocol. This can happen as a result of software upgrades, disagreements among participants, or the introduction of new rules. Read More
Cipher
An algorithm that encrypts and decrypts information. A cipher is a method used in cryptography to convert readable data (plaintext) into an unreadable format (ciphertext) to protect its confidentiality. Only those with the correct decryption key can reverse the process and access the original information. Ciphers are widely used in securing digital communications, online transactions, and data storage. Read More
Circuit breaker
A circuit breaker is a temporary measure implemented to halt trading to reduce panic selling on stock exchanges. Circuit breakers are triggered when a stock or market index experiences a significant price decline within a short period. These measures provide a cooling-off period for investors to assess market conditions and prevent irrational decisions that could worsen losses. Read More
Circulating supply
The circulating supply represents the number of cryptocurrency tokens or coins that are currently available in the market and accessible to the public. These tokens can be bought, sold, or held by traders and investors. It excludes coins that are locked, reserved, or not yet mined. Read More
Cloud Mining
Cryptocurrency mining which occurs with processing power loaned from companies. Cloud mining allows individuals to mine cryptocurrencies without owning or managing the hardware directly. Instead, users rent processing power from companies that operate large mining farms. These companies handle the setup, maintenance, and energy costs, making mining more accessible to people who lack the technical expertise or resources for traditional mining setups. Read More
Coin
Refers to a single unit of a cryptocurrency. A coin is a digital asset that operates on its own blockchain and is used as a medium of exchange, a store of value, or a unit of account. Coins are the native tokens of their respective blockchains. For example: Read More
Coinless protocol
Coinless protocol is built on the Ethereum blockchain and runs on smart contracts. Its purpose is to ensure autonomous management and the incentives for complying with smart contracts are built into the protocol itself. Unlike protocols that rely on native coins or tokens for operations, a coinless protocol operates without issuing its own cryptocurrency. Instead, it uses the Ethereum blockchain's existing infrastructure and relies on the platform's native currency (Ether, ETH) for transaction fees. The protocol enforces rules and automates processes through smart contracts, ensuring fairness, transparency, and trustless execution. Read More
Cold Storage
Cold storage is an offline wallet provided for storing cryptocurrencies. With cold storage, the digital wallet is stored on a platform that is not connected to the internet, thereby protecting the wallet from unauthorised access, cyber hacks, and other vulnerabilities that a system connected to the internet is susceptible to. Read More
Cold Wallet
A cryptocurrency wallet linked to a cold storage. A cold wallet is an offline wallet used to securely store cryptocurrencies by keeping them disconnected from the internet. This makes it highly resistant to cyber hacks, phishing attempts, or other online threats. Cold wallets are an essential tool for long-term holders and those looking to protect significant amounts of cryptocurrency from unauthorised access. Cold wallets provide maximum security, but users must ensure proper backup and safekeeping, as losing the wallet or private keys could result in permanent loss of funds. Read More
Collateralised Debt Obligation (CDO)
This refers to a financial product whose value is derived from underlying assets and is sold to institutional investors. CDOs are a type of structured financial product that pools together various loans, such as mortgages, bonds, or other forms of debt, into a single investment vehicle. These pooled assets are then divided into tranches based on risk levels, with each tranche offering different returns to investors. Read More
Collateralised Stablecoin
A stablecoin pegged to collateral in a reserve. Collateralized stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a stable value, typically pegged to a fiat currency like the US dollar or a commodity like gold. These stablecoins achieve stability by holding reserves of collateral, which act as a backing for their value. Read More
Collectibles
This refers to an item or collection of items that are considered valuable. Collectibles are considered valuable because of their uniqueness and can be sold for far more than their initial value. Collectibles often refer to digital assets that hold value due to their rarity, creativity, or cultural significance. These include Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), which represent unique digital items such as artwork, trading cards, virtual real estate, or in-game items. Read More
Commodity exchange
A commodity exchange is a registered entity wherein investors can trade (buy and sell) assets. A commodity exchange is also responsible for setting a standard of procedure for trading its investment products. Commodities traded on these exchanges include physical goods like agricultural products (e.g., wheat, coffee), metals (e.g., gold, silver), and energy resources (e.g., crude oil, natural gas). Additionally, financial instruments like futures and options contracts based on these commodities are often traded. Read More
Common stock
Common stock refers to a stock representing ownership in a corporation, and shareholders can vote on the board of directors for the company. Holders of common stock typically have the following features: Read More
Composability
This focuses on the interrelationship that exists between varying components of a system. Composability means that the components can be combined in varying techniques to meet certain needs. In blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi), composability refers to the ability of different protocols, smart contracts, or applications to seamlessly interact and integrate with one another. It allows developers to stack, combine, or "compose" various decentralized applications (dApps) to create new and innovative solutions without starting from scratch. Read More
Confirmation
This is a process carried out by miners to verify transactions on a cryptocurrency’s network to certify that a transaction is valid. This prevents double spending & can take some minutes to be completed. When a transaction is initiated on a blockchain, it is broadcast to the network. Miners (or validators in proof-of-stake systems) bundle the transaction into a block and solve a complex computational puzzle to add that block to the blockchain. Once the block containing the transaction is added, it receives its first confirmation. Read More
Confirmed
A transaction that has been confirmed or verified and is permanently added to the blockchain network. Read More
Consensus
Consensus is the process by which a blockchain network ensures that all participating nodes maintain a unified and accurate record of transactions. It is fundamental to the security, decentralization, and functionality of blockchain systems. Consensus mechanisms ensure that only valid transactions and blocks are added to the blockchain, preventing issues like double spending or tampering. Read More
Consensus mechanism
Consensus mechanism is a technology embedded in the blockchain that facilitates fair agreement or consensus between active nodes. Consensus mechanisms are the backbone of blockchain networks, ensuring that all participants agree on the validity of transactions and the state of the ledger without requiring a central authority. They maintain trust, security, and transparency in decentralised systems by coordinating and validating data across the network. Read More
Consensus process
In a consensus process the computer nodes responsible for validating a transaction work together to attain a solution. The consensus process is fundamental to blockchain technology, ensuring that all nodes in a decentralised network agree on the validity of transactions and the state of the distributed ledger. This collaboration eliminates the need for a central authority and ensures the integrity and security of the network. Read More
Consortium blockchain
Consortium blockchain is a hybrid blockchain that combines the features of private and public blockchains. In a consortium blockchain rather than just having a blockchain where anyone can validate a transaction or a particular party validating a transaction, a number of selected expert and powerful parties are entrusted with validation. This type of blockchain is typically used by organizations or industries where multiple parties need to collaborate, but there is a need to maintain some level of privacy and control over the network. The trusted consortium members, often comprising industry leaders or experts, ensure that the network remains secure, efficient, and decentralised without allowing full access to the public. Read More
Corporate bond
A corporate bond refers to a bond (debt securities) issued by either public or private corporations to raise money for the corporation. When a company needs funds for expansion, operations, or other financial needs, it can issue corporate bonds to investors. In return, the company agrees to pay periodic interest (coupon payments) and repay the bond's face value (principal) upon maturity. Read More
Corporate governance
The process in which company management ensures corporate accountability to shareholders or investors is called corporate governance. It involves a framework of rules, practices, and processes designed to balance the interests of various stakeholders, including shareholders, management, employees, customers, and the community. Effective corporate governance fosters transparency, ethical decision-making, and sustainable growth within an organisation. Read More
Correspondent banking
Correspondent banking occurs during cross-border payments. It is a relationship between two or more banks that allows a bank to provide financial services on behalf of another bank in a different country. In this arrangement, the correspondent bank acts as an intermediary, facilitating international transactions and enabling banks without direct access to certain foreign markets to offer their customers global financial services. For example, if Bank A in Nigeria needs to transfer funds to a recipient in France, but it does not have a direct relationship with the recipient’s bank, it may use Bank B in Europe as a correspondent to complete the transaction. Read More
Coupon rate
The rate of interest paid by bond issuers to its bond buyers is referred to as a coupon rate. Unlike traditional loans, the bond issuer determines the coupon rate, not the purchaser. The coupon rate is expressed as a percentage of the bond’s face value (par value) and represents the annual interest payment made to bondholders. For example, if a bond with a par value of $1,000 has a coupon rate of 5%, the bondholder will receive $50 in interest annually. Read More
Covered call
A covered call refers to the process involved in the sale of a call option of an owned stock. Read More
Credit rating
A credit is a quantitative assessment of an individual or company's creditworthiness that indicates the ability to fulfil financial obligations. Credit ratings are used by lenders, investors, and other stakeholders to evaluate the risk of lending money or extending credit. They reflect the likelihood that a borrower will repay debt on time and in full. Ratings are typically issued by credit rating agencies for businesses and governments or derived from credit scores for individuals. Credit ratings are expressed in categories such as "AAA" (highest creditworthiness) to "D" (default risk). A strong credit rating can lead to favorable loan terms, while a poor rating may result in higher interest rates or difficulty securing credit. Read More
Cross border
Cross border refers to the movement or activity that occurs between countries. Cross-border activities typically involve transactions, trade, or the transfer of goods, services, or funds across international boundaries. For example, cross-border payments enable individuals or businesses in different countries to send and receive money. Read More
Cross-border money transfer or payment
This is the transfer of funds from one country to another. Cross-border money transfers or payments enable individuals or businesses to send and receive funds across international boundaries. These transactions are crucial for purposes such as remittances, global trade, e-commerce, and foreign investments. Traditional cross-border payments are often facilitated through banks, but they can involve high fees, slow processing times, and currency conversion complexities. Read More
Cross-border payment infrastructure or network
This refers to a system that supports or enables the cross-border transfer of funds between financial institutions. Cross-border payment infrastructures facilitate the seamless movement of money across international borders, ensuring that transactions are processed efficiently, securely, and in compliance with regulatory requirements. These systems connect banks, payment providers, and financial networks in different countries, bridging the gap between various currencies and banking systems. Read More
Crowd sale
A form of crowdfunding in which crypto tokens are sold to investors to raise funds for a crypto project. Read More
Crowdfunding
A fundraiser undertaken between several persons to fund a crypto project. Read More
Crypto Act of 2020
The Crypto Act of 2020 is a proposed bill that aimed to define the roles of federal agencies in regulating cryptocurrencies and other digital assets within the United States. Read More
Crypto Art
A digital art piece that is considered an original art piece because there is an option to attain verified ownership of the art piece. They are considered as collectibles that can be purchased with crypto assets. Each piece of crypto art is associated with a unique token, typically a Non-Fungible Token (NFT), stored on a blockchain. This ensures authenticity and allows buyers to prove ownership. Like traditional art, crypto art is often valued for its rarity, creativity, and cultural significance. Examples of crypto art platforms include OpenSea, where artists can mint and sell their work, and collectors can acquire unique digital pieces. Crypto art represents a fusion of creativity and blockchain technology, redefining the way art is created, bought, and owned in the digital age. Read More
Crypto Asset
An asset that undertakes crypto-related technologies in its operations. They are typically divided into the following categories: Read More
Crypto Bubble
A crypto bubble refers to a period of extreme speculation where cryptocurrency prices soar to unsustainable levels, driven by investor excitement and market hype, followed by a sharp crash in prices. Crypto bubbles are characterised by: Read More
Crypto Contagion
This is a phenomenon in the crypto space in which a negative event triggers a chain of reactions that causes a market downturn. Crypto contagion occurs when a disruptive event, such as the collapse of a major cryptocurrency, exchange, or project, creates a ripple effect throughout the market. This can lead to widespread loss of confidence, significant sell-offs, and a drop in the value of cryptocurrencies. Read More
Crypto Derivatives
This refers to an asset that draws its value from underlying assets. These instruments allow buyers and sellers to place opposing predictions about the future value of an asset, earning profits based on the accuracy of their forecasts. Common examples include futures, options, and perpetual contracts. Many derivatives markets allow for trading with borrowed funds, amplifying both potential gains and risks. Read More
Crypto Economics
Crypto economics combines economics, computer science, and related disciplines to study the forces and mechanisms that impact the cryptocurrency market and blockchain ecosystems. Read More
Crypto Kitty
Crypto Kitty is a blockchain-based game that allows users to collect, breed, and sell unique digital cats using the Ethereum network. Read More
Crypto winter
A prolonged bear market in the cryptocurrency market is known as a Crypto winter, and it is defined by a sharp decline in cryptocurrency prices and a decline in market capitalisation. Read More
Cryptocurrency
A cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography to secure and verify financial transactions, as well as to control the creation of new units. Read More
Cryptographic Hash Function
A cryptographic hash function is a process where input data (e.g., transactions) is transformed into a fixed-size output of enciphered text called a hash value, or simply a “hash." Regardless of the size of the input, the hash function produces an output of a specific length. For example, the SHA-256 hash function always generates a 256-bit hash. It is computationally infeasible to reverse-engineer the input from the hash output. Cryptographic hash functions are essential for the security and efficiency of blockchain networks, ensuring data integrity and trustworthiness. Read More
Cryptography
Cryptography is an encryption technique used to secure data in transmission, data in storage, and user authentication, ensuring that only authorized parties can access, read, interpret, or process the information. Read More
Cryptojacking
Cryptojacking is the act of using another person’s computer, smartphone, or other device to mine cryptocurrencies without their knowledge or permission. Read More
Cryptology
Cryptology is the study of securing communication through cryptographic techniques, encompassing both the creation (encryption) and the breaking (deciphering) of codes. Cryptology is divided into two main fields: Read More
Currency
A valuable asset used as a medium of exchange. Currency is a standardised form of money that facilitates trade by acting as a common unit for valuing goods and services. It exists in various forms, including fiat currency, such as the US Dollar (USD), Euro (EUR), or Nigerian Naira (NGN), and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) or Ethereum (ETH). Fiat currency is issued by governments and backed by their authority, while cryptocurrencies operate on decentralised blockchain technology without centralized control. Read More
Custodial
The storage of private keys to an exchange or wallet are being held by a third-party service provider. In a custodial setup, a trusted third party, such as a cryptocurrency exchange or wallet provider, manages and secures a user's private keys on their behalf. This means the third party has control over the assets associated with those keys, and users must trust the provider to keep their funds safe. Read More
Cypherpunk
A movement that promotes the adoption of cryptocurrencies and crypto related projects. The cypherpunk movement originated in the late 1980s and is driven by advocates who believe in using cryptographic technology to enhance privacy, freedom, and decentralisation in digital systems. Cypherpunks emphasise the importance of individual control over data and financial systems, which aligns closely with the principles behind blockchain and cryptocurrencies. Read More
DAA
An acronym for “Daily Active Addresses,” DAA refers to the number of unique blockchain addresses that meet a set activity requirement within a 24-hour period. It is a metric used to measure how active a blockchain is. Activity can include sending, receiving, or interacting with transactions or smart contracts, depending on the blockchain's criteria. Higher DAA suggests a higher level of engagement, adoption, or utilization of the blockchain. Read More
DAO
A DAO, or Decentralised Autonomous Organization, is a system developed and governed by a set of rules encoded in smart contracts to automate decision-making and facilitate cryptocurrency transactions. Read More
Dark pool
A dark pool refers to a private trading exchange that is not easily accessible to investing public. Dark pools are created to facilitate large orders of investors whose market orders may have adverse price effects on assets. Dark pools allow institutional investors to execute large trades discreetly, without revealing their intentions to the broader market. This helps prevent significant price fluctuations that might occur if such trades were made on public exchanges. Read More
Dark Web
The dark web is a section of the internet that exists on the darknet and can only be accessed using specialised software, such as Tor (The Onion Router), and specific authorisations. Read More
Dash
Dash (formerly known as Darkcoin) is a fast-payment cryptocurrency created in 2014 using a modified version of Bitcoin's source code. It has since undergone significant improvements, making it a highly efficient and community-driven digital currency. Dash was designed to address Bitcoin's limitations, such as slow transaction speeds and limited scalability, by offering a faster and more user-friendly alternative. It is widely used for payments and remittances, particularly in regions where access to traditional banking is limited. Read More
Date of Launch
The date of launch refers to the specific time frame when Initial Coin Offering (ICO) tokens are officially made available for sale to the public. Read More
Day Trading
Day trading refers to the practice of buying and selling financial assets within a single trading day to maximize profit from short-term price movements. Day traders close all positions by the end of the trading day to avoid exposure to overnight market risks. This strategy is common in highly liquid markets such as stocks, forex, and cryptocurrencies. Read More
Dead Cat Bounce
A dead cat bounce is a market indicator that shows a short-term recovery or rebound in the price of an asset amidst a declining market. This recovery is only temporary, and the asset’s value typically continues to decline after the brief uptick. Read More
Dead Coin
A dead coin is a digital token originally designed as a cryptocurrency that is no longer viable or operational. This can happen for various reasons, such as abandonment by its developers, lack of user adoption, or failure to maintain market relevance. Read More
Decentralised
Decentralised refers to a form of organised system that operates without a central point of control or authority. Instead, the system functions through individual parts or participants (nodes) that follow a mutually agreed-upon set of rules or protocols. Read More
Decentralised Applications(dApps)
Decentralised applications, or dApps, are applications that run on a decentralised network, such as a blockchain, rather than relying on a single central server. This eliminates a single point of failure, enhancing security, transparency, and reliability. Read More
Decentralised Autonomous Initial Coin Offerings (DAICO)
A Decentralised Autonomous Initial Coin Offering (DAICO) is a fundraising model that combines the benefits of Decentralised Autonomous Organisations (DAOs) and Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). It incorporates a governance mechanism that enables token holders to have a say in the funding process. The process is governed by smart contracts that regulate the release of funds raised during the ICO. Token holders can vote on how funds are allocated or decide to refund the remaining contributions if the project fails to meet expectations. DAICOs aim to improve the traditional ICO model by incorporating decentralised governance and accountability mechanisms. Read More
Decentralised Exchange(DEX)
A decentralised exchange (DEX) is a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency exchange platform where transactions occur directly between users without the involvement of intermediaries or central authorities. Key features of a DEX include: Read More
Decentralised Finance (DeFi)
Decentralised Finance (DeFi) is a financial ecosystem built on blockchain technology that offers alternatives to traditional, centralised banking systems. It enables users to access financial services such as banking, insurance, lending, borrowing, and trading without relying on intermediaries like banks or financial institutions. Read More
Decentralised Identifier
A Decentralised Identifier (DID) is a self-owned, globally unique ID issued by an autonomous decentralised entity, used as proof of ownership or identity. Unlike traditional identifiers such as email addresses or usernames, DIDs are not controlled by central authorities, ensuring greater privacy and security. It is often stored on decentralised networks, ensuring immutability and tamper resistance. DIDs can be used across different platforms and services allowing users to only share the specific details required for verification, protecting their personal information Read More
Decryption
Decryption is the process of transforming encoded or encrypted data back into its original, readable form. This process enables authorised users to access and understand the information that was previously secured. Decryption works alongside encryption, reversing the process to reveal the original data. It requires a cryptographic key or password, which matches the method used during encryption. Decryption is essential for maintaining data security while enabling access to authorised users in finance, and blockchain technology. Read More
Deflation
Deflation refers to a decline in the general price level of goods, services, and assets in an economy over a period of time. It often results in an increase in the purchasing power of money. Read More
Delegated Proof of Stake
Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) is a consensus mechanism used in blockchain networks, serving as a hybrid alternative to Proof of Stake (PoS) and Proof of Work (PoW). It enhances efficiency and scalability by introducing a voting-based system where token holders elect a small group of delegates (validators) to validate transactions and maintain the network. Read More
Depth Chart
A depth chart is a market indicator used to visualise the demand and supply of a digital asset, helping traders determine the best time to buy or sell the asset. Read More
Derivatives
Derivatives are financial contracts or instruments between two parties whose value is derived from the performance of underlying assets. These underlying assets can include bonds, currencies, stocks, interest rates, commodities, or market indices. The value of the derivative is linked to the price or performance of an external asset. Derivatives are used for hedging risks, speculating on price movements, or gaining access to otherwise hard-to-trade assets. For example, a futures contract on gold allows two parties to agree on a price for gold to be delivered at a future date, regardless of the market price at that time Read More
Derivatives Market
The derivatives market is a financial market for financial products whose value is based on the prices of their underlying assets, such as futures contracts or options. Derivatives often allow traders to control large positions with relatively small amounts of capital, increasing both potential returns and risks. Read More
Deterministic Wallet
A deterministic wallet is a type of cryptocurrency wallet that uses a seed phrase to generate a sequence of private and public keys. This seed phrase, typically a set of 12, 18, or 24 randomly generated words, allows users to back up and restore their wallet easily. The seed acts as the root for generating all the wallet’s keys. Losing the wallet can be mitigated by simply restoring it using the seed phrase. As long as the seed phrase is kept secure, the wallet can be restored even if the original device is lost or damaged. Customers only need to back up the seed phrase instead of each individual private key, simplifying wallet management. Read More
Difficulty
Difficulty is a parameter in cryptocurrency networks that serves as a limiter to maintain a consistent average time between blocks, even as the network's hashing power fluctuates. Difficulty adjusts periodically (e.g., every 2016 blocks in Bitcoin) to reflect changes in the total computational power of the network. It ensures block generation remains steady despite increases or decreases in the number of miners or the power of mining equipment. Read More
Digital Commodity
A digital commodity is an asset that exists in a virtual format and can only be transferred or traded electronically. Unlike physical commodities such as gold or oil, digital commodities are intangible and are often represented on blockchain networks. Examples include cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, digital tokens, or other blockchain-based assets that hold value and can be exchanged. Digital commodities have gained prominence with the rise of blockchain technology. They offer new ways to store, transfer, and trade value in a digital-first economy. Digital commodities can be traded or transferred instantly across borders using electronic networks. Read More
Digital Currency
Digital currency refers to money that exists exclusively in digital or electronic form and is used for online transactions. Unlike physical cash, digital currency operates without a tangible counterpart and is often borderless, enabling instant transfers across the globe. Digital currencies can be issued by central banks (Central Bank Digital Currencies, or CBDCs) or exist as decentralised cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Read More
Digital Gold
Bitcoin is often referred to as digital gold. This is based on the assumption that bitcoin has a store of value like gold. This comparison arises from Bitcoin's unique characteristics: Read More
Digital Identity
A digital identity is a collection of information that identifies a person, organisation, or entity on the internet. It encompasses attributes such as usernames, passwords, personal details, and digital credentials that enable interaction and authentication in the online world. In decentralised systems, digital identities can be managed through blockchain technology, providing greater security and control for users. Read More
Digital Signature
A digital signature is a cryptographic code that appears on the internet and is used to confirm the authenticity and integrity of information transmitted electronically. Read More
Direct stock plan
Direct stock plan is available in certain companies and allows investors to buy stocks directly from the company without using a commodity exchange. Direct stock plans (DSPs) enable investors to buy shares at lower costs by bypassing brokers and their associated fees. These plans are particularly attractive for long-term investors who want to purchase stock regularly and reinvest dividends. Read More
Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG)
A Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) is a data structure used as a consensus tool in some cryptocurrencies to organise and validate transactions without relying on traditional blockchain methods. DAG is a graph where nodes (representing transactions) are connected in one direction, and there are no loops, ensuring data flows sequentially and cannot return to a previous node. Each new transaction validates one or more previous transactions, creating a web-like structure instead of linear blocks. DAG-based systems are highly scalable and suitable for high-throughput applications, as they eliminate block size and mining constraints. Read More
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attack
A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is a type of cyberattack where an attacker overwhelms a target server, network, or website with a massive volume of traffic, rendering it unable to perform its normal functions. Read More
Distributed Ledger
A distributed ledger is a digital database that is stored across multiple nodes in a network. Unlike centralised databases, which are controlled by a single authority, distributed ledgers allow all participants in the network to maintain a shared and synchronised copy of the data. Key characteristics of distributed ledgers: Read More
Distributed Ledger Technology
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) refers to the technological infrastructure that enables the creation and operation of a decentralised, distributed ledger. This ledger records, shares, and synchronises data across multiple nodes in a network, ensuring transparency and security. Read More
Distribution
Distribution refers to the systematic selling of digital assets, typically by large holders such as crypto whales, to maintain price stability and avoid sudden market collapses. Instead of offloading large quantities of assets at once, which could crash prices, distribution involves selling coins or tokens incrementally over time. Read More
Diversification
Diversification is a risk management strategy that involves spreading capital across various investment schemes, asset classes, or financial instruments to reduce exposure to any single risk. Read More
Dividend
A dividend is a portion of a company’s profit distributed to its shareholders as a reward for their investment in its stock. Dividends can be paid in various forms, including cash, additional shares, or other pre-defined methods decided by the company. Dividends are typically paid on a regular schedule, such as quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. Special dividends may also be issued as one-time payments. For example, a company may announce a dividend of $2 per share, meaning an investor holding 50 shares would receive $100 in dividend income. Dividends are particularly appealing to income-focused investors and indicate a company’s financial health and profitability. Read More
Dividend ex-date
The dividend ex-date, also known as the ex-dividend date or ex-dividend, is the date on which a stock begins trading without the value of its upcoming dividend. This date is typically set one business day before the record date. Read More
Dividend payout ratio
A dividend payout ratio refers to the percentage of earnings paid to shareholders via dividends based on the company's net income. This ratio indicates how much of the company’s profits are being returned to shareholders versus how much is retained for reinvestment or other purposes. It is calculated using the formula: Read More
Dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP/DIP)
A dividend reinvestment plan is an automated program offered by companies that allows investors to reinvest their cash dividends into additional shares of the company’s stock automatically, rather than receiving the dividends in cash. Read More
Dividend yield
The dividend yield ratio measures the risk of investing in a company. Read More
Dollar volume
Dollar volume is the total value traded in a stock exchange over a fixed time frame. It is calculated by multiplying the number of shares traded by the price. Read More
Dollar-cost averaging (DCA)
Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) is an investment strategy where an investor allocates a fixed amount of money to purchase an asset at regular intervals over a certain period, regardless of the asset's price. Read More
Dolphin
A dolphin refers to an individual who holds a moderate quantity of cryptocurrencies. Read More
Dominance
This is a measure of Bitcoin’s marketing capitalisation compared to the rest of the combined market capitalisation of all other cryptos. Bitcoin dominance is expressed as a percentage and indicates how much of the total cryptocurrency market value is represented by Bitcoin. Read More
Double Spending
Double spending is a situation in which an individual attempts to manipulate a cryptocurrency transaction to spend the same cryptocurrency twice. Read More
Dump
Dump refers to either selling off large quantities of cryptocurrency in a short period or a significant drop in the market value of a cryptocurrency. Dumps can be natural market occurrences or orchestrated as part of pump-and-dump schemes, which are manipulative and often illegal. Read More
Dumping
Dumping occurs when a significant percentage of market participants sell off large quantities of a cryptocurrency within a short time frame, often causing a sharp decline in its price. Read More
Dust Attack
A dust attack is a malicious tactic in which a small amount of cryptocurrency, known as "dust," is sent to thousands of wallet addresses. The goal of this attack is to track and potentially de-anonymise the recipients, enabling attackers to gather information and attempt to defraud them. Read More
Dust Transaction
Dust transactions are cryptocurrency transactions involving a minute amount of crypto. When the value of a transaction is less than the cost of spending it, it's referred to as "dust." The transaction cost to move or use the dust exceeds its actual value, rendering it economically impractical to spend. Dust transactions can be used maliciously in dusting attacks, where small amounts are sent to many wallets to track and deanonymise users. Read More
Dutch Auction
A Dutch auction, also known as a uniform price auction or descending auction, is an auction strategy where the auctioneer begins with the highest possible bidding price and gradually lowers it until bids are collected that cover the entire offer amount. Dutch auctions are used in financial markets like Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) or to sell bonds. Read More
DYOR
An acronym for “Do Your Own Research,” DYOR is a widely used phrase in the cryptocurrency and investment communities that encourages individuals to independently investigate and analyse information before making financial decisions. Read More
E-signature
An electronic signature or symbol used as an alternative to a physical signature. Read More
Earnings announcement
An earnings announcement is a public report issued by a company to disclose its financial performance over a specific period, typically a quarter or a year. This report provides insights into the company’s profitability, revenue, expenses, and other key financial metrics. Read More
Earnings per share (EPS)
Earnings per share (EPS) is a financial metric that measures a company's profitability and indicates how much profit is attributable to each share of its common stock. It is a key indicator used by investors to assess a company's financial performance and profitability. Read More
ECO
A token or coin earned by taking actions that contribute to energy conservation or sustainable energy. It can also be bought at a price. Read More
Email Spoofing
The act of disguising as another person or entity in an email with the aim of scamming a person. Read More
Emission
This refers to the speed at which new cryptocurrencies are released. Read More
Encryption
A process through which information is made into codes. Read More
Entry and Exit Points
Entry points refers to the time in which you buy a cryptocurrency while exit points refers to the point in which you exit the market by selling of the cryptocurrency. Read More
Equal-weighted index
An equal-weighted index is a type of stock index where each stock in the portfolio or index is assigned the same value or weight, regardless of the company's size or market capitalization. Read More
Equity
Equity refers to the value of ownership in a company, represented by the amount of money invested into the company by its owners or shareholders. It is the residual interest in the company’s assets after deducting its liabilities. Read More
ERC
An acronym for “Ethereum Request for Comments” is a compilation of all improvement proposals to Ethereum. Read More
ERC 1155
An EIP proposal to develop a smart contract interface that can represent and control a wide range of fungible and non-fungible tokens. Read More
ERC 721
This centers on setting a standard on ownership of non-fungible tokens. Read More
ERC-20
A token standard for the Ethereum blockchain, used for implementing tokens. ERC-20 has rules defining interactions between tokens, transfer between address and data access. Read More
Escrow
A financial set up in which an intermediary holds funds while a transaction is being concluded between a seller and buyer. Read More
EST
This refers to the Eastern Time zone in which stock market trading hours are recorded. It is speculated that stock trading hours are recorded in EST because that’s where New York’s Wall Street is located. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq operate from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM EST during regular trading days. Extended trading sessions outside regular hours also follow EST. Read More
Ether
The transactional token that enables transactions on the Ethereum network. Read More
Ethereum
Ethereum is an open-source, global, decentralised platform for money and new kinds of applications. Its cryptocurrency is used by applications built on Ethereum as platform fees to keep the applications running. Read More
Ethereum Improvement Proposal
A document that describes the standard for making modifications to the Ethereum network. Read More
Ethereum Name Service (ENS)
ENS is an Ethereum-based service that allows crypto users to convert their machine-readable addresses to human-readable addresses. This allows you to easily send cryptocurrencies via the much simpler names of receiver. Read More
Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)
A blockchain powered software that allows developers to build smart contracts or decentralized apps on the Ethereum network. Read More
Etherscan
Etherscan is a tool through which can view all assets on any Ethereum wallet. Read More
Exchange
This is also known as trading exchange or trading platform where buyers & sellers of a particular commodity, asset or currency meet to transact business. For cryptocurrencies, this is where people buy or sell crypto coins for other crypto coins or fiat. Read More
Exchange rate
The exchange rate refers to the value at which one currency is exchanged for another. It indicates how much of one currency is required to buy a unit of another currency and serves as a key metric in international trade and finance. It can either be: Fixed Exchange Rate: Set and maintained by a country's central bank. Floating Exchange Rate: Determined by market forces such as supply and demand. Read More
Exchange Traded Fund
A security setup that tracks assets, bonds, and stocks which can also be traded like an asset. Read More
Explain Like I'm Five (ELI5)
A crypto slang which emphasises breaking down concepts in a way that a five-year-old can understand. Read More
Externally Owned Accounts
It refers to an account controlled by a private key. Anyone who holds the private key can send and receive messages from it. Read More
Faucet
A reward system initiated on a website or app that rewards users for completing certain tasks. It is an initiative used to attract participants after the creation of an altcoin. Read More
Fear and Greed Index
An index that is used to measure market sentiments of an asset. Extreme fear denotes that investors are worried and may sell-off assets while extreme greed may project more purchases out of FOMO. Read More
Federal Reserve Stocks
Federal Reserve Bank stocks are stocks owned by banks, not individuals. Federal Reserve Banks' stock is owned by banks, never by individuals. National banks are required by federal law to be Federal Reserve System members and to own a specific percentage of the Reserve Bank's shares in the Federal Reserve district where they are located. Read More
Fiat
This is a currency belonging to a particular nation-state or group of nation-states that has no intrinsic value but is established as money by the government to be used for the payment of goods & services. Its acceptance by the public gives it value. Read More
Fiat Gateways
A payment system (crypto exchange) that allows you to use local currencies (fiat) to purchase cryptocurrencies. Read More
Fiat-pegged Cryptocurrency
It refers to a stablecoin that is pegged or backed up by a government issued currency or fiat currency such as dollars, pounds, naira among others. Read More
FIFO
Stands for “First In, First out”, an inventory system used for calculating your taxes. Read More
Financial statements
These refer to legal documents detailing a business or individual's financial activities and performance. Read More
Fish
It refers to an individual with little or almost insignificant amount of cryptocurrencies whose actions to sell or buy may not reflect in any major price fluctuations, unlike the dolphins or whales. Read More
Flappening
A popular slang coined to describe the moment in which litecoin surpasses Bitcoin Cash in market capitalisation. Read More
Flash Loans
A type of loan that requires no collateral, one of the initiatives of DeFi, decentralized finance. Read More
Flippening
This occurs when a cryptocurrency’s total market cap surpasses another cryptocurrency. Read More
Flipping
Flipping is a strategy that involves buying real estate assets with the aim of reselling in a short time frame to make the most profit. It may also be employed in ICO offerings, in which investors purchase tokens before they go public and sell it at an increased price immediately sales begin. Read More
FOMO
Stands for "fear of missing out". Read More
Foreign exchange
This is an exchange or market where one currency is exchanged for another. Read More
Fork
This is when there is a split in a blockchain into two possible paths due to a protocol change. Read More
Frictionless
A trading environment with no restraints or costs on transactions. Read More
Frontrun
This is when a miner places a transaction on a queue because they have more information about a future transaction with the aim of earning a profit. Read More
FUD
Stands for "Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt." Read More
FUDster
A person who spreads FUD with the hope of bringing down the value of a cryptocurrency to make the most profit. Read More
Full Node
A node that downloads a blockchain full history and checks blocks against Bitcoin’s consensus rules. Read More
Full Pay-Per-Share
This is also known as PPS+ refers to when a miner is paid an additional transaction fee incentive if a block is identified. Read More
Fundamental Analysis
A trading strategy that involves studying the intrinsic value of a cryptocurrency and its historical statistics to maximise profits. Read More
Fungible
A coin or token that can be replaced by an identical coin or token is known as fungible. Read More
Futures
An agreement between two parties with a predetermined date and price that obligates them to transact in the future based on the contract. Read More
Futures Contract
A legal binding document that obligates parties involved to either buy or sell an asset at a particular time at a predetermined price. Read More
Gains
This centres on the increase in value or price of a crypto asset. Read More
GameFi
An industry that brings together gaming and crypto. Read More
Gas
A unit used to measure the computational effort of processing a transaction or smart contract in the Ethereum network. It “fuels” the Ethereum network. Read More
Gas Limit
The maximum gas a person is willing to spend on a transaction on the Ethereum blockchain. Read More
Gas Price
The maximum amount a user is willing to pay for a transaction on the Ethereum Network. Read More
GDP (Gross Domestic Product)
Gross domestic product is the total monetary value of all finished goods and services produced within a country within a defined time frame. Read More
Genesis Block
The first block of data that is processed and validated from a new blockchain, also called block 0 or block 1. Read More
Golden Cross
A market indicator that predicts the price rally of an asset. Read More
Governance Token
A token provided to participants on the network that provides them the power to vote on governance. It can be given as a reward incentive for completing some tasks or can be bought at a price. Read More
Graphical Processing Unit
It is commonly referred to as a graphics card or computer chip. GPU is a digital tool used to lighten the workload of processors during mining. Read More
Group Mining
Group mining is when a group of miners combine their mining power to increase their chances of validating a block. Read More
Growth investing
Growth investment is an investment strategy in which an investor buys stocks from companies anticipated to grow at an above-average rate compared to their broader industry market. Growth investors generally favour younger, smaller companies that have the potential to expand to increase profitability in the future. Read More
Gwei
The denomination used to determine the cost of gas on an Ethereum Network, such as a gas price of 10,000 Gwei. Read More
Hacking
The process of using a computer to forcefully gain access to another system. Read More
Halving
A situation in which the total reward a miner should receive per block is halved. Read More
Hard Cap
This refers to the total maximum supply of a crypto asset. Read More
Hard Fork
A cryptocurrency splits in two, creating a new blockchain that follows a different protocol. Bitcoin Cash is a hard fork of Bitcoin. Read More
Hardware Wallet
Cryptocurrencies are often stored on a virtual wallet. A hardware wallet allows you to store crypto on a physical medium such as a USB stick. Read More
Hash
An algorithm that maps data of arbitrary size to a bit string of a fixed size and is a one-way function. It can't be read without a cipher. Read More
Hash Function
A algorithm tool that is used to map data of arbitrary size and compress it to a fixed-sized value. Read More
Hash Graph
A distributed ledger system often described as an alternative to blockchains. Read More
Hash Rate
A measure of computational power required to process transactions on a Proof-of-work system. Read More
Hashing Power
Computational power (hash rate) of a system being measured in hash per second that is H/s, MH/s, GH/s, TH/s, PH/s or EH. H/s. Read More
Hedging
A risk management strategy implemented to reduce loss associated with an investment. Read More
High-frequency trading (HFT)
This investment method involves using powerful computer programs with complex algorithms to analyse and transact a large number of orders in fractions of a second to increase profitability. Read More
HODL
Stands for “Hold on for Dear life.” It suggests holding your cryptocurrencies for an extended period of time without the pressure of price changes. Read More
Honeypot Scam
In a honeypot scam, an attacker creates an illusion of a vulnerability in the system. While the user tries to exploit this vulnerability, the user's funds are locked in such that only the attacker has access to them. Read More
Hot Storage
Storing private keys online, which offer quick access to cryptocurrencies. This also comes with a higher risk. Read More
Hot Wallet
A crypto wallet connected to the internet to facilitate hot storage of cryptocurrencies. Read More
Hybrid PoS/PoW
This allows for Proof-of-Stake and Proof-of-Work to run on the same network. It combines the security of PoW and the energy efficiency of PoS. Read More
Hyperledger
An opensource blockchain created to advance blockchain technologies. Read More
IDO
An acronym for “Initial Decentralised Offering” A decentralised and permissionless crowdfunding initiative similar to ICO. In contrast to an ICO, where tokens are sold before being posted on an exchange, tokens in an IDO are instantly listed on the DEX through which they are launched. Read More
Immutable
A feature of an asset that marks it as difficult to change or modify. Read More
Impermanent Loss
A temporary loss that involves a trader losing some capital because of volatility in a trading pair. Read More
Implied volatility
Implied volatility refers to a market’s forecast about the possible price moves of an asset. Read More
Income investing
Income investing is an investment strategy that is centred around building a portfolio that generates a regular source of income. This income could be from stock dividends, rent from real estate, interest payments from loans etc. Read More
Income statement
This is one of the types of financial statements detailing a company’s financial performance over a specific period. Read More
Index
The performance of a specific market, asset class, market sector, or investment strategy is represented and measured by an index, which is a collection of stocks, securities, or other financial instruments. An index uses a standardised metric and methodology to calculate the price performance of a group of assets. Read More
Inflation
A decrease in the buying power of money and an increase in prices. Read More
Initial Bounty Offering
A financial scheme in which participants contribute their skills to a project rather than funds. Read More
Initial Coin Offering
This involves selling tokens with the intention of crowdfunding a project. Read More
Initial Exchange Offering
A crowdfunding scheme through which crypto start-ups generate funds through listing on an exchange. Read More
Initial Public Offering (IPO)
The process in which shares of a private corporation are offered to the public to raise capital for expanding the corporation. Read More
Initial Token Offering
It focuses on offering tokens which have its intrinsic value in the form of software or energy which are then offered on sale as a means of crowdfunding a project. Read More
Insider trading
This is a criminal and illegal practice of trading an asset on an exchange to one’s advantage through access to confidential information. Read More
Institutional Investors
This refers to persons or groups of persons that invest in assets on behalf of their clients or members. Read More
Interest
This is a monetary charge paid for borrowing money from a lender, otherwise known as the cost of borrowing money. Read More
Interest rate
This is the interest a lender charges a borrower, a percentage of the principal or amount loaned. Read More
Intermediary
This refers to a middleman or a go-to-person in a transaction between two other parties, a seller and buyer. Read More
International money transfer
This is a fund transfer across borders and often involves converting one currency to another. Read More
Internet of Things
A feature embedded in computing devices that allows devices to communicate and send data. Read More
Interoperability
This refers to the ability of distinct blockchain networks to share data, as well as move different digital assets between the networks' blockchains without restriction. Read More
InterPlanetary File System
A peer-to-peer and protocol network designed for storing and transmitting data on a distributed file system. Read More
Intrinsic value
This refers to the fundamental value contained in an asset or object. Read More
Invest
Setting aside money in a financial scheme or project with the aim of making profit. Read More
Iron condor
Iron condor is an investment strategy aiming to profit from the low volatility of an asset and uses an options strategy of setting long and short puts and calls for a trade. Read More
JOMO
Stands for ‘joy of missing out’. Read More
Junk bond
A junk bond is a risky type of bond investment that has been given a low credit rating and is considered to rank below the investment grade. Read More
Kimchi Premium
The token price differences between global crypto exchanges and South Korean exchanges. Read More
KYC
“Know your customer”, the obligation of the financial company to verify the identity of the customer. Read More
Lambo
An abbreviation of “Lamborgini” which is used to describe a significant price increase that allows a person get rich quickly; rich enough to buy exotic cars. Read More
Ledger
This is a (digital) record book of all transactions on a cryptocurrency network, also known as the blockchain. The records are updated in real-time & show a history of all transactions from the day of inception to present making verification of data easy. Read More
Leverage
This refers to funds loaned from crypto exchanges to increase a trader’s trading power. Read More
Light Node
Light nodes refer to downloaded wallets connected to a full node to help in the validation of transactions on a blockchain. Read More
Lightning Network
Layer two payment protocols on top of the blockchain. Its goal is to solve Bitcoin scalability issues by enabling faster, scalable transactions between and across nodes. Read More
Limit Order/Limit Buy/Limit Sell
An order placed by a trader to automatically buy or sell a token when it reaches a particular price. Read More
Liquid Proof of Stake (LPoS)
A proof of stake system that allows investors to loan their validation rights without losing ownership of the token. Read More
Liquidity
An indication of how easily cryptocurrency can be bought and sold. Read More
Liquidity Pools
These are created to provide consistent liquidity in a market by enabling the trade of trading pairs on a decentralized exchange. Read More
Liquidity Provider
This refers to active participants on a decentralized exchange platform that provide funds to fund a liquidity pool. Read More
Lock Time
Also known as timelock, is a timestamp that determines when a transaction sent to the blockchain can be processed. Read More
Long/ Long Position
A trading strategy in which you purchase cryptocurrencies with the expectation that the value would increase so you can sell for a higher profit in future. Read More
MACD
An acronym for “Moving Average Convergence Difference”, a technical analysis tool used for observing price trends. Read More
Mainnet
A blockchain that is running on its own technology and protocol. Read More
Margin account
A margin account is a specific kind of brokerage account where the broker-dealer lends the investor money to buy assets while using the account as collateral. Read More
Margin Bear Position
A position taken with the assumption that the prices will decline with expectations of profit from the bearish market. Read More
Margin Bull Position
A position taken with the assumption that the prices will rice with expectations of profit from the bullish market. Read More
Margin Call
A notification from an exchange which loaned leverage informing a trader that their position is running at a loss. The trader may be asked to either provide more collateral or the account would be closed and liquidated. Read More
Margin rate
A margin rate is the interest rate applied to an account trading on margin. Read More
Margin Trading
It refers to a trading strategy that helps increase a trader's trading capital by taking a loan from an exchange. Read More
Market
A gathering of people in an area, either physical or virtual, where trades and similar transactions are completed. Read More
Market Buy / Market Sell
This is an order to buy or sell a cryptocurrency at the best available price. Read More
Market cap/ capitalisation
This refers to the total value of a company’s shares of stock. It is calculated by multiplying the price of a stock by the total amount of outstanding shares. Read More
Market Capitalization
This is calculated by multiplying the total amount of coins of a cryptocurrency in circulation and its price. It is also used to rank cryptocurrencies. Read More
Market index
A hypothetical portfolio representing a specific financial market area is known as a market index. A market index tracks the performance of a specific collection of assets, such as the Nasdaq or S&P 500. Read More
Market Maker
A market maker, also known as a liquidity provider, quotes both a purchase and a selling price for an asset with the hopes of profiting from the bid-ask spread. Read More
Market Order
A type of limit order that specifies the time at which a trade should be executed. Read More
Market sentiment
This is the investors' overall attitude or feeling towards an asset revealed based on the asset's price movements. A bullish market sentiment indicates rising prices of an asset as demand increases. Read More
Market Signal
This refers to an indication or information passed across passively or intentionally among traders in a given market. Read More
Market Taker
A market taker is an individual who completes the market order by accepting to either buy or sell from existing orders. Read More
Market trend
This refers to the price direction of an asset over a given period. Read More
Market value
Also known as open market valuation (OPV), is the price an asset would fetch in the marketplace when it is put up for sale. Read More
Market-cap-weighted index
Also known as the capitalisation weighted index (cap-weighted index CWI), is a stock market index in which companies with a larger market capitalisation carry more significance than companies with smaller market capitalisation. Read More
Marlin Protocol
High-performance network infrastructure for modern decentralized networks. Read More
Masternodes
A series of computer systems that are used to process and validate transactions. Read More
Maturity date
This refers to the set date when the final payment or profit is due for a loan, bond or stock. Read More
Max Supply
The total amount of coins of a cryptocurrency that would exist in a lifetime. Read More
Memecoin
This refers to a coin that has humorous characteristics or originated from an internet meme. Read More
Mempool
An abbreviation of “memory pool” which refers to a database that contains pending or unconfirmed transactions. Read More
Merge
This refers to the deployment of Ethereum's execution layer (the existing Ethereum network) to the "consensus layer" of Ethereum's forthcoming proof-of-stake blockchain, the Beacon chain. Read More
Merkle Tree
This is also known as the hash tree, refers to a data structure which is used to encrypt data securely. It has its leaves labelled with the cryptographic hash of a data block. Its non-leaf nodes are labelled with the cryptographic hash of its child nodes' labels Read More
MetaMask
A cryptocurrency wallet that allows you to interact on the Ethereum Network and participate in DeFi projects. Read More
Metaverse
The metaverse is a virtual reality world where users can interact, play games, and have real-life experiences. Read More
MicroBitcoin (uBTC)
It is sometimes referred to as a fork of bitcoin however, it is the millionth fraction of bitcoin. One microbitcoin equals 100 satoshi Read More
Microtransaction
Tiny payments that are made in exchange for digital products or services. An example would be purchasing something in a video game, which could be in-game currency or upgrades. Read More
Mimblewimble
An Harry Potter spell that prevents you from exposing secrets. In the crypto space, it is a protocol that allows for a completely private transaction through a unique security network. There are no addresses and the transactions are purely confidential. Read More
Mineable
A cryptocurrency with mining systems that miners can profit from Read More
Miner
An individual or group of persons who use computational power and skills to confirm and verify transactions on the blockchain. They earn a reward for their contribution to the blockchain. Read More
Miner Fee
This is also called transaction fees, users of a cryptocurrency who send out coins on the cryptocurrency blockchain/network pay small amounts of their coins to miners whose work is to verify the authenticity of transactions on the network and are paid according to the size of value being sent. Read More
Mining
Using GPU power to solve PoW equations that add blocks to the blockchain and verify transactions. Read More
Mining Contract
A mining initiative in which the hashing power of a mining hardware is loaned out for a certain amount of time. It may also be referred to as cloud mining. Read More
Mining Pool
Grouping together computational power to gain an advantage in finding the next block on the blockchain. Read More
Mining Reward (Block Reward)
The reward received from contributing your computation power to process transactions. Read More
Mining Rig
A computer used for mining. It is usually composed use multiple GPUs to get the highest hash rate. Read More
Mnemonic Phrase
A phrase or list of words used to access and recover cryptocurrency assets. Read More
Mnemonics
A learning technique or memory aid that helps to aid retention and retrieval of information. Read More
Mobile Wallet
A virtual wallet that operates on a mobile device, stores payment information, and can be used to complete transactions. Read More
Money Laundering
An evasive strategy employed by criminals to hide their funds from the government. Read More
Money Services Business (MSB)
This refers to an entity that transfers or converts money. Read More
Moon
A crypto slang used to describe continuous upward price movement of a cryptocurrency. Read More
Mt. Gox
One of the first exchanges to allow the purchase of cryptocurrencies with traditional or local currencies (fiat). Read More
Multi-Signature
More than one key is required to authorise a transaction, that way if a single key is compromised one or more keys are still required to approve the transaction. Read More
Municipal bond
A municipal bond is a type of bond (debt security) issued by a local or state government. Read More
Mutual fund
A mutual fund is a pool of assets, e.g. stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments, which is managed by a professional for shareholders to maximise profits. Read More
Naked call
When an investor writes (sells) a call option without first securing ownership of the underlying stock, this option strategy is known as a naked call. Read More
NASDAQ
Nasdaq was the world’s first electronic exchange for trading (buying or selling) assets. Read More
Network
All active nodes of a blockchain at any time. Read More
Newb/Newbie
This describes an individual who is new to a particular industry or just started participating in an activity. Such an individual may also be referred to as a beginner or novice. Read More
No-coiner
A person who has strong convictions that cryptocurrencies would fail and holds no cryptocurrencies. Read More
Node
It refers to a device or system connected to a network. Read More
Non-custodial
The users directly hold their private keys to their wallets. Read More
Non-Fungible Token (NFT)
This refers to tokens that cannot be duplicated or replicated. Read More
Non-voting stock
Non-voting stock or shares refer to stocks that provide shareholders little or no votes in matters relating to company governance. Read More
Nonce
An abbreviation for, Number Only Used Once”, refers to a randomly generated number during mining that is encrypted in the blockchain. It is generated as part of an authentication mechanism to prevent replay attacks on previous Read More
Noobs
An individual who is new and doesn’t have much experience in an industry. Read More
NYSE
NYSE is the largest equities-based exchange in the world. Equity shares of publicly traded corporations can be bought and sold on the NYSE. Read More
OCO
An acronym for “One Cancels the Other Order “. which refers to a situation in which two crypto orders are placed at the same time, with the restriction that if one is approved, the other is canceled Read More
Off-Chain
This refers to transactions that occur within a cryptocurrency network that move the value out of the blockchain. Off-chain transactions have lower costs, faster settlement times, and more anonymity than on-chain transactions. Read More
Offline Staking
This is also known as cold staking, refers to staking conducted with a cold wallet that is without access to the internet. Read More
Offline Storage
Storing cryptocurrency on a device that is not connected to the internet. Read More
On-chain Governance
A system for making modifications and managing cryptocurrency networks without compromising their security. Read More
Online Storage
The storage of cryptocurrencies in a device or wallet that is connected to the internet. Read More
Open Source
The open-source model is a decentralized software development style in which the source code is available to the general public for use, audit & modification from its original design free of charge. Read More
Open/Close
Open refers to a cryptocurrency’s price at the start of the day, while close is the cryptocurrency’s price at the end of the day. Read More
Option
Option is an agreement between two parties that allows them to buy or sell a stock at a fixed price within a specified time frame. The price is referred to as a strike price or exercise price. Read More
Option chain
Also known as option matrix, it is a detailed representation of all available option contracts of an asset. Read More
Option premium
The current market value of an option contract is known as an option premium. It is the money that the seller (writer) of an option contract receives from the opposite side. Read More
Option spread
This is an options investment strategy in which an investor buys and sells multiple options of the same type but with varying expiring dates or strike prices. Read More
Options
An option is a contract that provides the investor the right to buy or sell a specified asset at a specific price on or before a specific expiration date. Read More
Oracles
Oracle is a service that connects the blockchain to the real world. It connects smart contracts to the outside world, allowing them to both receive and send information. Read More
Order Book
An order book is an electronic record of all the buy and sell orders of an asset on an exchange. Read More
Orphan Block
This refers to a block not included in the main blockchain due to a network time lag. Read More
Over the Counter (OTC)
Over the counter trading is an activity done directly between two parties without using a regular exchange. Read More
Overbought
Overbought refers to a situation in which the price of a cryptocurrency rises over time as a result of continued investments, but there is no supporting investment reason. Numerous sell-offs are expected after this period. Read More
Oversold
This is when the price of an asset, is trading below its true value. Read More
P/E ratio
Also known as earning multiple, it is a metric used to determine if a stock is expensive or cheap. It is the ratio of a share price of a stock to its earning per share. Read More
Pair
The trade or exchange of one cryptocurrency for another. Read More
Paper wallet
A paper wallet is an offline mechanism for storing cryptocurrency. The process involves printing the private keys and Bitcoin addresses onto paper. Whatever can happen to cash can happen to a paper wallet so safekeeping is advised. Read More
Password Manager
A software application or tool that helps you manage passwords for different applications and software. Read More
Pay-Per-Last N Shares (PPLNS)
When a block is found, each miner's reward is determined based on the miner's contribution to the previous N pool shares. Read More
Pay-Per-Share (PPS)
This means a miner receives a standard payout rate for each share solved. Read More
Payment gateway
This is an online payment service that allows merchants to receive electronic payments from customers. Read More
Payment service provider or operator
This refers to a firm or entity that manages a payment system and offers payment processing services to merchants. Read More
Peg
A fixed price or exchange rate between two assets. Read More
Penny stock
This is the stock of a small company which typically trades for less than $5 per share. Read More
Permissioned Blockchain
A blockchain that is not publicly accessible and can only be accessed by users with permissions who can only perform specific actions granted to them by the central administrators of the blockchain. Read More
Permissionless ledger
A blockchain that is publicly accessible such that anyone can access it without any restrictions. Read More
Phishing
A fraudulent cybercrime in which an attacker disguises as a trusted entity to steal your information through emails, SMS, social media platforms. Read More
Pizza
This is also referred to as bitcoin pizza is the first known purchase of a physical item with crypto (bitcoin). Read More
Ponzi scheme
A fraudulent investment scheme in which the investments of an individual is used to pay existing investors. Read More
Portfolio
A collection of cryptocurrencies held by an individual or a fund. Read More
Portfolio
Also known as an investment portfolio, it is the entire collection of financial investments, which includes assets such as real estate, crypto, stocks, bonds, commodities etc. Read More
Position trader
A position trader is an investor who holds a specific asset position for an extended period. Read More
Position trading
A trading strategy in which a trader holds a position for an extended time. Read More
Pre-sale
A presale is when a particular ICO token is available for sale to private investors or community members before it is sold in the ICO. Read More
Preferred stock
This is a hybrid type of stock that possesses the features of both stock and bonds. Investors earn profits through their scheduled payments of dividends but do not have voting rights. Read More
Price volatility
This refers to the price fluctuations of an asset. Read More
Price-weighted index
This is a stock index in which the proportion of each firm's share price in the overall index is based on the company's stock per share. Read More
Principal
This refers to the original amount loaned or the initial capital invested. Read More
Priority
The speed at which your transaction will be included in a block. The higher the priority the faster the transfer. Read More
Privacy Coins
Privacy coins are cryptocurrencies designed to maintain the anonymity of a transaction and the parties involved. Read More
Private Blockchain
Private blockchains are permissioned blockchains in which only select individuals can see and make modifications to the blockchain. Read More
Private Key
A code generated from the encryption process, which can be paired with the public key to decrypt information. Read More
Proof of Burn (PoB)
A consensus algorithm focused on managing energy consumption. It achieves this by rewarding miners for burning tokens. Read More
Proof of Developer (PoD)
A consensus algorithm that identifies the developer as a means to provide legitimacy and prevents an imposter developer from receiving unmerited rewards. Read More
Proof of Stake(PoS)
A blockchain consensus mechanism in which the creator of the next block is chosen by various variables. Read More
Proof of Work(PoW)
A blockchain consensus mechanism that involves solving computational intensive equations to validate transactions and create new blocks. Read More
Proof-of-Authority
A consensus algorithm that uses identity as a stake in validating transactions and running the blockchain network. Read More
Prospectus
This is a formal document demanded by the SEC that provides details of an investment offering or asset to the public. Read More
Protocol
A rule set that defines interactions on a network. Read More
Proxy statement
This is a formal document sent to shareholders informing them about a shareholders’ meeting and the purpose and agendas to be voted upon. Read More
Proxy voting
This allows shareholders to vote for matters affecting the company without being present by transferring voting rights. Read More
Pseudonymous
A false name used to identify a person. Read More
Public Address
A cryptographic hash of a public key, this address allows you to receive cryptocurrency. Read More
Public Blockchain
A blockchain network that can be accessed by anyone from a computer system. Read More
Public float
Also known as free float, it represents the portion of shares of a company owned by public investors as opposed to the locked-in shares owned by owners, controlling interest investors with governance power. Read More
Public Key
A cryptographic system that uses pairs of keys: the public key which can be circulated widely and private key which is only known by the owner. Read More
Public Ledger
A ledger in which anyone can access or view every transaction ever made on the blockchain network. Read More
Pump and Dump (P&D) Scheme
A fraudulent scheme that involves the artificial inflation of the price of a cryptocurrency, which the intention of selling the once low priced currency at a higher amount. Read More
Put feature
This feature or option in a contract allows the holder of the asset to sell some equity shares at the strike price before the option expires. Read More
Pyramid Scheme
A fraudulent scheme that undertakes a hierarchical structure and pays the top tier members with funds from new members. Read More
QR Code
A label that shows information encoded into a graphical black and white patter. It is often used to share wallet addresses. Read More
Quantum proof
A blockchain that is resistant to quantum computer attacks. This is based on the perception that cryptocurrencies are vulnerable to quantum computers, which are believed to break through cryptography codes much faster than traditional computers. Read More
Quarterly report
This report is sent every three months detailing a company’s activities, performance and financial statement. Read More
Quote
To provide an estimated value or price for an asset. Read More
Rank
The position a crypto asset holds by value of its market capitalization. Read More
Ransomware
A hacking attempt to infect computers and encrypts files, holding them hostage until the owner pays to regain access. Read More
Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)
A business that owns, manages, or finances income-producing real estate is known as a real estate investment trust (REIT). A REIT is a business entity that invests directly in real estate by purchasing homes or mortgages. Read More
Rebalancing
Rebalancing is the process of changing an asset allocation in a portfolio to bring it back in line with the initial allocation determined by an investor's risk and reward profile. Read More
Reddit r/CryptoCurrency Moon
A cryptocurrency on social media platform Reddit that rewards people for contributing to its digital token. Read More
Regulation
A set of rules implemented by an authority or government that guides an activity. Read More
Regulatory Compliance
A set of rules that a company is required to follow to monitor accountability. Read More
Rekt
A crypto slang for “wrecked” that represents a bad trade. Read More
Relative Strength Index (RSI)
A trading tool that is used to measure the price movement of a crypto asset to determine the strength of its market. Read More
Remittance
This involves sending funds across borders from one country to the next and usually involves a foreign worker sending money to their home country. Read More
Replay Attack
This is also known as playback attack or repeat attack, is a network attack in which valid data transmission is intercepted and delayed to mislead the receiver into doing what the hacker wants. Read More
Rights issue
This is a unique invitation extended to existing shareholders in a company to purchase additional new shares at a special price. Read More
Ring Signature
A signature in a cryptographic set up, which a set of participants that have access to unique keys can create. It is used to obscure the identities of participants in a transaction. Read More
Risk management
These are the intentional measures taken to minimise investment risks. Read More
Risk tolerance
This is the degree of risk or uncertainty accepted by a person before they can invest in an asset. Read More
ROI
“ Return on Investment”, the ratio between the net profit and cost of investing. Read More
Rug Pull
A deceptive cryptocurrency scheme in which crypto developers abandon a project (removing liquidity) and disappear with the funds of investors. This causes a sharp price drop, resulting in huge losses for investors. Read More
S&P 500
The Standard and Poor's 500, popularly known as the S&P 500, is an index used to measure the performance of 500 of the biggest firms listed on American stock markets. Read More
SALT
An acronym for “Secured Automated Lending Technology”, which provides borrowers with loans using cryptocurrencies as collateral. It could also refer to a random input that is introduced to a password or a passphrase to make the hash unique and prevent it from being decoded easily by a hacker. Read More
Satoshi
A satoshi is the smallest unit of a bitcoin. It is equal to one hundred millionth of a bitcoin, or .00000001 BTC. A satoshi are to Bitcoin what cents are to the dollar. Read More
Satoshi Nakamoto
An individual or group of individuals that are responsible for creating Bitcoin. The identity of Satoshi Nakamoto has never been confirmed. Read More
SATS
An abbreviation of satoshi, the smallest unit of bitcoin. Read More
Scalability
The capacity of a system to process more tasks, increase performance while reducing the cost of doing so Read More
Scalability Limitation
It refers to the limitation of a blockchain that limits the speed of its transactions and the quantity of transactions it can process in a time frame. Read More
Scalability Solution
A proposed solution with the aim of solving the scalability limitations of a blockchain network. Read More
Scalping
This refers to a trading strategy that involves buying and selling a digital token numerous times on the same day within short durations in order to profit from slight price swings throughout that period. Read More
Scam
A cryptocurrency that is known to be deceptive or fraudulent. Read More
Scammer
A person who participates in a fraudulent scheme to steal people’s funds or crypto assets. Read More
Scrypt
Scrypt is a password-based key derivation mechanism that uses a lot of memory in order to make large-scale hardware attacks more expensive. Read More
Second-Layer Solutions
A secondary network built on top of a public blockchain to improve its scalability and efficiency. Read More
Secondary offering
When an investor sells their shares to the general public on the secondary market following an initial public offering (IPO), this is known as a secondary offering. The proceeds from the sale go to the investor rather than the company. Read More
Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU)
An emergency fund set aside by Binance to protect users' assets against theft or a catastrophic event. Read More
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
An independent agency of the government that oversees federal securities laws and is responsible for proposing laws, implementing regulations, and protecting the market against manipulation. Read More
Security Token
A security token is a unique code that allows you to access an electronically restricted resource. Read More
Security Token Offering
A security token is a one-of-a-kind token that represents a stake in an external asset or organization and is issued on a permissioned or permissionless blockchain. Read More
Seed
A list of random words which store all the information needed to recover a Bitcoin wallet. Read More
Segregated Witness (SegWit)
A Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP) that is geared towards solving bitcoin scalability problems. Read More
Selfish Mining
Selfish mining is a dishonest cryptocurrency mining practice in which a single miner or a group solves a hash, creates a new block and conceals it from the public blockchain. The other miners continue to waste computing resources on an old block, allowing the selfish miner to get a head start on the newer block. Read More
Sell Offs
A sell-off occurs when a large volume of assets are sold in a brief span of time, causing the asset's price to decline rapidly. It is motivated by bearish market sentiment. Read More
Sharding
Sharding splits a blockchain company's entire network into smaller segments known as "shards," with each shard handling transaction processing. Sharding is used to relieve pressure on other components such as the CPU or GPU, allowing more computational power to be dedicated to solving cryptographic puzzles and reaching consensus. Read More
Share
Shares are assets that represent part ownership of a company and can be bought and sold in exchange for money. Read More
Shareholder
A shareholder is anyone who holds stocks or shares in a company. Read More
Shareholder meeting
Also known as Annual General Meeting or AGM, it is a gathering of the company's shareholders for business discussions or to elect the board of directors. Read More
Shilling
Actively and enthusiastically promoting a cryptocurrency. Read More
Shitcoin
The term crypto traders give to some coins which they perceive to be of little or no value. Read More
Short
A trading technique in which a trader sells an asset with the expectation that it would decline in price so he can make a purchase when it drops and sell for a higher price later. Read More
Short interest
This indicates the number of shares in a company currently sold short and not yet covered. Read More
Short selling
When engaging in short selling, a position is created by obtaining shares of a stock or other asset that the investor anticipates will lose value. Read More
Short squeeze
The phrase "short squeeze" describes a phenomenon in the financial markets where traders who have previously sold an asset short are compelled to close out their positions due to a sudden increase in the asset's price. The intense buying pressure effectively "squeezes" out short sellers from the market. Read More
Sidechain
A sidechain is a blockchain network that is connected to the main chain through a two-way peg. It runs alongside the main chain and allows assets to be transferred between the two. Read More
Signal
An indicator that informs traders on whether they should buy or sell an asset. Read More
Sim Swapping
This is also known as sim swap attack, is an attack that attempts to gain access to your mobile device and locks you out in an attempt to gain access to your accounts and defraud you. Read More
Smart Contract
A software protocol intended to digitally facilitate, verify, or enforce the negotiation or performance of a contract. Smart contracts allow the performance of credible transactions without third parties. These transactions are trackable and supposedly irreversible. Read More
Soft cap
The lowest amount of funds that can be raised for a project, usually determined by the project's management. Read More
Soft Fork
A software upgrade, similar to updating an app on a mobile device that occurs on the blockchain. It renders previous transactions invalid and miners may have to upgrade their software to continue the mining process. Read More
Software Development Kit (SDK)
A software development kit (SDK) is a collection of software development tools in one easy-to-install package. They aid application development by providing a software framework. Read More
Software Wallet
A computer program that allows you access to your cryptocurrencies and helps to secure its transactions. Read More
Solidity
Solidity is a programming language used in creating smart contracts. It is used to build smart contracts on a variety of blockchain systems, the most popular of which is Ethereum. Read More
Solo Staker
A Qtum (quantum) Proof-of-Stake miner staking their own currency. Read More
SPAC
Special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs): SPAC, also known as a blank check company, is a corporation that has no commercial activity and was formed only for the goal of generating funds through an initial public offering (IPO). Read More
Spyware
A software that infiltrates your system to steal sensitive information. Read More
Stablecoin
A stablecoin is a type of cryptocurrency that has a fixed price with the intention of offering stability to those who want little to no volatility while dealing with cryptocurrencies. They are often backed by a reserve asset like the USD or gold. Read More
Stake
A number of crypto funds set aside as collateral. Read More
Staking
Staking is the process of locking in your crypto assets so that they can be used for proof-of-stake validation. Read More
Stale Block
A successful block that was not included on the current longest blockchain, usually because another block of the same height was added to the chain first. They are referred to as double-mined blocks and aren't part of the blockchain. Read More
State Channel
A state channel is an auxiliary payment channel that lets people conduct transactions with one another outside of the blockchain, or "off-chain." Read More
Stock
This is an investment that represents fractional ownership in an organisation. Read More
Stock buyback
When a publicly traded firm uses funds to buy shares of its own stock on the open market, it is known as a stock buyback. Read More
Stock dividend
This is a dividend payment to shareholders as additional shares rather than cash. Read More
Stock exchange
A stock exchange is a centralised location where the shares of publicly traded companies are bought and sold. Read More
Stock market time
This is the time frame in which the stock market is open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m EST Read More
Stock split
This is when a company increases the number of its outstanding shares by issuing more shares to its current shareholders. Read More
Stop-limit order
A stop-limit order combines the characteristics of a stop order with a limit order when placing a purchase or sell order for a stock. A stop-limit order turns into a limit order when the stop price is reached and is executed at the specified price (or better). Read More
Stop-loss Order/ Stop Order
The stop-loss order is a type of limit order designed to protect traders from losses by selling when the asset's price falls below a certain level. Read More
Store of Value
A feature of an asset that allows it to be stored, exchanged and retrieved. Read More
Strike price
Also known as exercise price, this is the set price of an option in which the put or call option can be exercised. Read More
Super Staker
A full node Qtum Core wallet that provides Proof of Stake for assigned addresses while keeping a small portion of each block reward as a charge for providing staking services. Read More
Swing trading
This trading strategy seeks to benefit from short to medium-term price swings while trading assets. Read More
Symbol
A distinct mark or character used to identify an item, function, or activity. Read More
Tangle
Tangle is a cryptocurrency transaction system that works similarly to Blockchain. It makes use of a directed acyclic graph (DAG) and is also not under the control of a central authority. Read More
Technical Analysis
A trading method or strategy that allows a trader to forecast the price movement of an asset by studying the past market trends. Read More
Testnet
The testnet is an alternative blockchain, to be used for testing software upgrades & improvement protocols to work out errors & bugs before being moved to the main blockchain. Read More
Think Long Term (TLT)
An investment mindset that convinces you to store an asset for an extended time frame (months or years) to maximise profit. Read More
Ticker/ Ticker symbol
A ticker is a string of letters that is used to represent an asset, stocks, DeFi solutions, cryptocurrencies on an exchange platform. E.g Bitcoin’s ticker symbol is BTC. Read More
Time decay
Also called theta, it is the measure of the value of an asset or the rate of its decline in value as the option’s contract draws to its expiry date. Read More
Time Lock
Also referred to as Locktime, a feature that determines the time frame in which a transaction should be processed. Read More
Timestamp
A timestamp is a sequence of characters or encoded information identifying when a certain event occurred, usually giving date and time of day. Entries in decentralized ledgers are timestamped. Read More
Token
This is created it for its utility of providing access to a larger crypto economic system. They are made so the software can be developed around them. Read More
Token Generation Event (TGE)
A Token Generation Event (TGE) is the process of creating a token on a blockchain-based network and launching it into the market, usually through a public sale, private sale, or initial coin offering (ICO). TGE is often used to gain visibility, increase crypto participation, and raise funds. Read More
Token sale
The process of raising funding for a blockchain project by selling digital tokens or coins before the project is live to generate revenue. Read More
Token Swap
This refers to the direct exchange of a token for another. It could also refer to the migration of a token to another blockchain. Read More
Tokenize
The process of giving digital value to real assets for the purpose of offering ownership. Read More
Tokenless Ledger
A type of distributed ledger that does not require a native currency to operate, also known as "pure" or "transaction-only" blockchain. Read More
Tokenomics
A combination of the word “token” and ‘economic”. It centers on the economic features or benefits of a token that makes it attractive to investors. It also explains the sentiments around a token that could affect its monetary value. Read More
TOR
An open-source decentralized software that anonymizes a user’s web activities such that it is difficult to track. It may also refer to the acronym for "Terms of Reference", which defines the purpose of a project, its protocols, and the means to achieve it. Read More
Total supply
The total amount of cryptocurrencies in existence with the exceptions of cryptocurrencies that have been burned. Read More
Total value locked (TVL)
The overall value of crypto assets placed (staked) in a decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol is referred to as total value locked (TVL). It is calculated by dividing the total value of coins locked in a master node by the number of master nodes in existence at the time. It is a metric for calculating the health of a DeFi protocol. Read More
TPS
An acronym for “Transactions Per Second”, that is the total amount of transactions completed per second. Read More
Trading Tournament
A trading campaign employed by crypto exchanges to encourage traders to trade more to earn a reward. Read More
Trading Volume
The number of cryptocurrencies traded within 24 hours Read More
Trailing stop order
A trailing stop is an order made to lock in gains or reduce losses while a transaction performs well. Read More
Transaction (TX)
The exchange of an asset. Read More
Transaction Fee
This is also called miners’ fees, users of a cryptocurrency who send out coins on the cryptocurrency blockchain/network pay small amounts of their coins to miners whose work is to verify the authenticity of transactions on the network and are paid according to the size of value being sent. Read More
Transaction Fee Market
It is a strategy that allows non-validators/miners who nevertheless want their transactions completed promptly to voluntarily boost fees as an incentive for miners to prioritize them over others on a blockchain network. Read More
Transaction ID (TXID)
Every cryptocurrency transaction comes with a transaction ID the same way every bank transaction comes with a transaction ID. This ID is a unique string of letters & numbers that makes a transaction trackable on the blockchain of the cryptocurrency. Read More
Transaction Malleability
Transaction malleability is the process of altering a transaction's unique id by altering the digital signature that was used to generate it. Read More
Transaction Malleability Attack
It's a dubious exploit that allows an attacker to modify a bitcoin transaction's unique ID before it's confirmed on the network. If the attacker is able to successfully pull this off, the alteration allows someone to pretend that a transaction never took place. Read More
Transaction Pool
This is also known as a mempool, is a data structure that stores the set of unmined transactions that have been validated by miners. Read More
Treasury bonds
These are bonds (debt securities) issued by the government. Read More
Trustless
This is a system of distributing trust among different actors in a system via an economic game that incentivizes participants in the system to cooperate with the rules defined by the protocol. The Bitcoin blockchain is an example. Read More
Turing Completeness
T uring completeness refers to a machine's ability to do all possible programmable calculations. It is a data manipulation system that can read programming languages and complex databases utilising a small collection of data, most commonly the Turing machine. Read More
Turing Machine
A system that helps with solving problems and the calculation of data systems that are difficult for the human mind to understand. Read More
Two Factor Authentications (2FA)
A digital security measure that necessitates a user to provide two proofs of identity before they can access a website or application. Read More
Unbanked
This refers to a group of people that do not have access to banking service or choose not to because of certain limitations. Read More
Unconfirmed
This is when a transaction hasn’t been verified on the blockchain by miners. Read More
Underbanked
A grouping of people who have limited access to banking services. Read More
Unpermissioned Ledger
A digital record-keeping software that anyone can download, run and add entries into it according to the preset rules to achieve consensus without license or restriction from a central source. Unspent Transaction Output (UTXO): UTXO represents the amount of digital currency left after a crypto transaction has been completed. They are the coins in the wallet that haven't been spent yet. Read More
UTC Time
This is referred to as "Coordinated Universal Time," which is the standard through which time in the world is regulated. Read More
Utility Token
A token purchased with the expectation that it would offer the buyers certain privileges to consumer products. Read More
Validator
A participant who takes part in the validation of blocks on the Proof-of-Stake Consensus Algorithms. Read More
Value Investing
This is an investment strategy that involves buying stocks that seem to be trading less than their intrinsic value with the expectation they will rise in profits. Read More
Vaporware
A product that is announced to the public, but is never actually created. Read More
Variable Buy/Sell Tax
A non-fixed buy/sell tax that permits contract owners to adjust the tax rate at will. Read More
Venture Capital
A form of private equity provided to fund start-ups with the potential of growth. Read More
Virgin Bitcoin
This refers to bitcoins that have never been spent. Read More
Virtual Automated Market Makers (vAMMs)
vAMM is a programmable smart contract that provides synthetic (or virtual) liquidity to traders, allowing them to purchase and sell derivatives completely on the blockchain. They help to maintain the market liquidity when there aren't any active buyers or sellers. Read More
Vitalik Buterin
Co-founder of Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency. Read More
Volatile market
A market that is characterised by sharp price fluctuations either bearish or bullish that makes it difficult to predict the direction in which the market will move. Read More
Volatility
This represents the extent of an asset's price swing around its mean price and is used as a measure of the risk of an investment. Read More
Volatility Index
The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) portrays the market expectations for the relative strength of near-term price changes of the S&P 500 index. Read More
Volume
The amount of cryptocurrency that has been traded over a period of time, the supply and demand play a role in determining this. Read More
Voting rights
These are rights gained by shareholders that allow them to vote on matters of the company. Read More
Wallet
A software system that stores a user’s information, transaction details and funds. Read More
Wallet Address
This is also known as a public key, is a unique string of numbers and characters that are used to send you cryptocurrency. Read More
Wallet Seed Phrase
A seed phrase is a string of words generated by your wallet and used to gain access to the crypto linked with it. The seed phrase is similar to a password or private pin. Read More
Wash Trade
A market manipulation strategy that involves purchasing and selling assets through different identities to create false activity in the market. Read More
Watchlist
A watchlist is a feature of some exchanges that allow users to create a personal list of cryptocurrencies they wish to observe their activity. Read More
Weak Hands
A trader who has the tendency to sell an asset at slightest inclination of a price decline. Read More
Web3 Wallet
A digital wallet that allows users to store digital assets such as NFTs, and interact with dApps. Read More
Website
A set of web pages with related contents under a domain name registered to an individual or entity. Read More
Wei
The smallest denomination of Ethereum. 1 Eth = 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 Wei. Read More
Whale
An investor who has a large amount of crypto, enough to manipulate the market. Read More
Whale Watching
Whale-watching is the act of tracking the activities of major crypto holders to see when they make significant trade moves that could affect price fluctuations. Read More
When Lambo
A crypto slang referring to a time frame in which crypto traders would get rich enough to purchase a Lamborghini. It is often used along with the phrase “When Moon” suggesting a time in which cryptocurrencies would explode in value. Read More
When Moon
An expression used by investors to ask when the price of an asset or crypto-token will skyrocket. Read More
Whitelist
A list of participants who indicate interest in participating in an Initial Coin Offering (ICO). Read More
Whitepaper
A document prepared for investors that outlines the vision, cryptocurrency use, cryptoeconomic design, technical information, and a roadmap. Read More
X86 virtual machine
X86 Virtual Machine enables Qtum developers to write smart contracts in a language of their choice Read More
Xylyl
A univalent radical. Read More
Yellow Pay
This is a payment product of Yellow Card that allows you to send money across Africa in your local currency instant and at zero fees. Read More
Yield
Yield, which is calculated as a percentage, represents the return on an investment over a specified time period. Read More
Yield curve
The yield curve is a line that plots the relationship between yields and maturities of fixed income securities Read More
Yield Farming
Yield farming involves the practice of staking or lending your crypto funds to generate profit. Read More
YTD
Year to Date. Read More
Zero Confirmation Transaction
Another name for an unconfirmed transaction. Read More
Zero confirmation/unconfirmed transaction
A zero confirmation or unconfirmed transaction is defined as an exchange that has not yet been recorded or verified on the blockchain Read More
Zero-Knowledge Proof/ Protocol
A means of proving to another party in cryptography that a particular statement is true without providing extra information beyond that which is already known. Read More
Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Argument of Knowledge (Zk-SNARKs)
Zk-SNARKS refers to a form of zero-knowledge proof that requires no direct interaction or additional information between the prover and the verifier. Read More
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