A
Address
A unique identifier where crypto is stored and received. It is a string of characters and numbers.
Airdrop
The distribution of digital assets to selected wallets.
All-Time High (ATH)
The all-time high is the highest price an asset has ever reached. Traders use it as a reference point for market strength.
Alpha
Alpha refers to early information or an early preview of a new product. It is often shared privately before a public release.
Altcoin
A cryptocurrency that is not Bitcoin.
AMM (Automated Market Maker)
A DEX mechanism that uses liquidity pools instead of order books.
Application Programming Interface (API)
A set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate and exchange data with each other.
APR (Annual Percentage Rate)
Interest earned without compounding.
APY (Annual Percentage Yield)
Interest earned, including compounding interest.
Arbitrage
A method to take advantage of different prices of an asset by buying and selling it in other markets.
Asset
A digital token with value, e.g., ETH or USDC.
Asynchronous
Events that do not happen at the same time.
Atomic Swap
A trustless, peer-to-peer token exchange between chains.
Attack surface
An area where an attacker can attempt to enter or extract information from the protocol/dApp.
Audit
Security review of smart contracts by the experts in that field.
B
Bags
Bags refer to the portfolio of digital assets held by a person. People often use it casually to describe long-term positions.
Base Layer
A base layer is the main blockchain where transactions occur. Examples include Ethereum, Solana, and Bitcoin.
Bear Market
A prolonged period of falling crypto prices, often referred to as a negative trend. It often leads to reduced trading and lower confidence.
BEP-20
BEP-20 is the token standard for BNB Smart Chain. It defines how tokens behave, similar to Ethereum’s ERC-20.
Bitcoin
Bitcoin is the first cryptocurrency created by Satoshi Nakamoto. It operates as decentralized digital money secured by proof-of-work.
Block
A block is a collection of validated transactions added to a blockchain onchain. Each block links to the previous one, creating a chain.
Block Explorer
A block explorer displays activity on a blockchain, such as transactions or wallet balances. It allows anyone to verify onchain data in real time.
Blockchain
A decentralized ledger of transactions and information about a crypto token. It ensures data security, immutability, and trustlessness.
BNB Chain
BNB Chain is a fast, low-fee, EVM-compatible blockchain built by Binance. It powers thousands of decentralized apps and tokens.
Bounty
A bounty is a reward to incentivize certain work, behavior, or development. It encourages community participation.
Bridge
A bridge connects different blockchains and moves assets or data between them. deBridge is an example of a secure, real-time cross-chain bridge.
Bull Market
A prolonged period of rising crypto prices, often referred to as a positive trend. It brings optimism, activity, and high investor interest.
Burn
A method to permanently remove tokens from circulation. This reduces supply and may increase scarcity.
C
CeFi
CeFi refers to centralized financial services like exchanges or lenders. Users trust companies to manage funds on their behalf.
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)
A CBDC is digital money issued by a country’s central bank. It aims to combine blockchain features with government-backed currency.
Centralized
When the decision-making power is centralized in a single point within a system.
Centralized Exchange
Exchanges that are controlled by big companies.
Chain
A blockchain network, e.g., Arbitrum or Solana.
Circulating Supply
The cryptocurrency tokens available publicly in the market.
Cold Wallet
Offline crypto storage, safer from hacks.
Composable
Interoperable DeFi protocols that can integrate with others.
Cross-chain
Interactions or transactions between different blockchains.
Crypto Protocol
A set of rules and procedures that govern behavior in a decentralized network.
Cryptocurrency
A cryptocurrency is a digital currency secured by cryptography. It operates without central control.
Custodial
Custodial wallets are managed by third parties (like CEXs) who control your keys. Exchanges usually provide custodial services.
D
DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization)
DAO is a community-run org governed by code and voting and controlled through smart contracts. Members vote on changes and proposals.
DApp
DApp is a decentralized app built on smart contracts. It runs on a blockchain instead of centralized servers.
DBR
Native token of the deBridge ecosystem.
deBridge
A fast, secure cross-chain infrastructure with native bridging and real-time transfers.
deBridge Hooks
Cross-chain programmable messaging for smart contracts.
Decentralized
Not controlled by a single authority.
Decentralized Exchange (DEX)
An exchange for trading tokens without centralized intermediaries.
Decentralized Finance (DeFi)
Replacing traditional financial services with smart contracts.
Diamond Hands
Holding a digital asset and not selling it whatsoever.
Do Your Own Research (DYOR)
A piece of advice. As a rule, always research a digital asset instead of blindly following anyone.
E
Encryption
A way to convert information into a secure code.
ERC-20
A technical standard for fungible Ethereum tokens.
ETH
Native asset of the Ethereum blockchain.
Ethereum
The first L1 blockchain known for providing smart contracts.
Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP)
Community-suggested protocol changes for Ethereum.
Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)
A runtime environment for smart contracts.
F
Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO)
FOMO is the fear that you’re missing a profitable opportunity. It often leads to emotional or rushed decisions in crypto.
Fiat
Government-issued currency, e.g., USD or EUR.
Finality
The assurance of the irreversibility of a blockchain transaction.
Fork
A fork happens when a blockchain splits into two versions. It can be planned (upgrade) or unplanned (disagreement).
Front-running
Front-running is executing a trade before someone else to profit from their order. MEV bots often use this strategy to exploit orders for profit.
Fully Diluted Valuation (FDV)
A projection of a protocol’s market value in the future if all tokens were in circulation. It helps assess long-term valuation.
G
Gas
Gas is the fee paid to process transactions on a blockchain. Higher network activity leads to higher gas costs.
Gasless
Gasless transactions are processed without requiring user gas payments. Protocols cover the cost or use alternative fee systems.
Genesis Block
The genesis block is the very first block of a blockchain, also known as Block 0 or Block 1. It marks the beginning of its chain history.
GM (Good Morning)
“GM” (short for Good Morning) is a friendly greeting widely used in crypto communities. It represents positivity and shared culture.
Governance Token
A governance token gives holders the right to vote on protocol decisions. It represents decentralized ownership.
H
Hard Wallet
A hard wallet is a physical device for storing crypto securely offline. It helps to protect funds from online attacks, helping you safely store your crypto.
HODL
An acronym for Hold on for Dear Life - maintaining ownership of tokens lifelong despite volatility. It’s a popular meme symbolizing strong conviction.
Honeypot
A honeypot is a tool to detect unauthorized access attempts. It helps identify malicious activity.
Hooks
Hooks are cross-chain abstraction tools offered by deBridge. They enable smart contracts to work across chains seamlessly.
Hot Wallet
A software-based crypto wallet connected to the internet. It’s convenient but more vulnerable to hacks compared to a hard wallet.
I
Initial Coin Offering (ICO)
An ICO is a fundraising method for early-stage crypto projects. Investors receive tokens in exchange for capital when investing in an ICO.
Interoperability
Interoperability is a concept of allowing different blockchains to communicate seamlessly. It enables transfers, messaging, and data sharing.
L
Layer 1 (L1)
L1 blockchains operate independently with their own consensus systems. Some examples of L1 blockchains include Ethereum, Solana, and Bitcoin.
Layer 2 (L2)
L2 networks scale L1 blockchains by processing transactions off-chain. They are built on top of an existing blockchain and help reduce fees and improve speed.
Limit Order
A limit order is placed to help buy or sell an asset at a specific price. It gives traders more control than market orders.
Liquidity
Liquidity measures the ease of buying or selling an asset without causing fluctuations. High liquidity reduces price impact for an asset.
M
Mainnet
Mainnet is a live, production-ready version of a blockchain. Unlike testnet, transactions on mainnet carry real value.
Maker
A maker is someone who places an order on an exchange. Their order adds liquidity to the market.
Market Order
A market order executes immediately at the best available price for a cryptocurrency. This order prioritizes speed over precision.
MetaMask
MetaMask is a widely-used crypto wallet for Ethereum and EVM chains. It’s available as a browser extension and mobile app.
Miner Extractable Value (MEV)
MEV is profit made by reordering or inserting transactions in some order. Bots often exploit this on high-traffic chains.
Minting
Minting is the process of creating new tokens or NFTs on a blockchain. It permanently adds them to the supply.
Multi-chain
Multi-chain projects or assets operate across several blockchains. This increases access and user reach.
Multisig
A multisig wallet requires multiple approvals to execute actions or transactions. It improves security for shared funds.
N
Native Token
The native token is the primary asset of a blockchain. For example, ETH is the native token of Ethereum blockchain and SOL is the native token of Solana blockchain.
NGMI
NGMI is an acronym for “Not Gonna Make It.” A popular crypto slang used humorously for making poor decisions in crypto.
Node
A node is a computer that participates in running a blockchain. It validates transactions and keeps the network secure.
Non-custodial
Non-custodial wallets give users full control of their private keys. You own your funds without third-party involvement.
Non-Fungible Token (NFT)
NFTs represent unique digital items like art, collectibles, or in-game assets. Each NFT has distinct ownership and metadata.
O
Offchain
Offchain activity happens outside the blockchain to reduce load and improve speed. This is often used by Layer 2 blockchains.
Onchain
Onchain actions are recorded directly on the blockchain. They are transparent and verifiable by anyone with an internet connection.
Oracle
An oracle brings external data into smart contracts. It enables real-world use cases like price feeds.
Order Book
An order book lists buy and sell orders on an exchange. It shows market depth and liquidity.
P
Pair
A trading pair is two assets that can be swapped with each other. Common pairs include ETH/USDC, SOL/USDT, BNB/USDT etc.
Paper Wallet
A paper wallet stores a wallet’s public and private keys on paper. It’s offline but fragile and easy to lose.
Peg
A peg fixes the value of one asset to another, i.e., a fixed exchange rate between two assets. Stablecoins often use USD pegs.
Permissionless
Permissionless systems are open to everyone. Anyone can build, trade, or participate.
PoS (Proof of Stake)
PoS is a consensus mechanism that secures a blockchain using staked tokens. Validators earn rewards for honest behavior.
PoW (Proof of Work)
A consensus mechanism using computational work to validate blocks. Bitcoin is the largest PoW chain.
Private Key
A private key is the secret code that controls access to your crypto. Anyone with your private key can move your funds.
Protocol
A protocol is a ruleset that defines how a blockchain works. It governs transactions, nodes, and consensus.
Public Key
A public key is a cryptographic address used to receive funds on the blockchain. It works together with your private key.
Pump-and-dump
A pump-and-dump artificially inflates a token’s price before dumping it. It’s a common market manipulation tactic.
R
Real World Assets (RWAs)
RWAs are physical or traditional assets tokenized for use on blockchain. Examples include real estate, bonds, and commodities.
Rekt
Rekt means being financially wiped out or liquidated. It's a crypto slang for heavy losses.
Rug Pull
A rug pull is when developers abandon a project and drain liquidity. It’s one of the most dangerous crypto scams.
S
Satoshi
A satoshi is the smallest unit of Bitcoin. 1 BTC equals 100 million satoshis.
SDK
An SDK provides tools for developers to integrate with protocols. It simplifies blockchain app building.
Security Audit
A security audit checks smart contracts for vulnerabilities. It helps ensure protocol safety.
Sei
Sei is a specialized blockchain designed for high-frequency trading applications. It focuses on performance and scalability.
Self-custody
Self-custody means you control your own private keys. No third party can access your funds.
Slippage
Slippage is the difference between expected and actual trade execution price. It happens during high volatility or low liquidity.
Smart Contract
A smart contract is a self-executing code that runs on a blockchain. It removes the need for intermediaries.
Solana
Solana is a high-speed, open-source blockchain for dApps and smart contracts. It supports high-performance applications.
Sonic
Sonic is a L1 blockchain designed to deliver high speed, security, and scalability. It aims to power next-generation DeFi and gaming applications.
Stablecoin
A stablecoin is pegged to a stable asset like USD. It helps reduce volatility in trading.
Staking
Staking is a method of locking tokens to secure a network and earn rewards. For example, individuals can stake ETH on the Ethereum blockchain.
Swap
A swap directly exchanges one token for another. It’s widely used in DEXs and cross-chain bridges.
T
Testnet
A testnet is a blockchain used for experimentation. It mimics mainnet but uses valueless tokens.
Token
A token is a digital asset issued on a blockchain. It can represent currency, utility, or ownership.
Tokenomics
The economics and design of a token’s supply and utility. It influences demand, price, and long-term value.
Total Supply
The total supply is the maximum number of tokens that will ever exist. It includes circulating and locked tokens.
TVL (Total Value Locked)
TVL measures how much value is locked in a DeFi protocol. It’s a key indicator of ecosystem activity.
V
Validator
A validator is a node that confirms blocks and secures the network. It secures the network by verifying transactions and earns rewards for honest work.
Vault
A vault is a smart contract that manages pooled assets. It’s used in DeFi for automation and yield optimization.
Volatility
Volatility measures how quickly asset prices change. Crypto markets are known for high volatility.
W
WAGMI
WAGMI is an acronym for “We’re All Gonna Make It.” It expresses positivity and shared optimism.
Wallet
A wallet is a tool for storing and managing your crypto assets. It can be hardware, software, custodial, or non-custodial.
Watchlist
A watchlist is a set of tokens you monitor.Traders use it to track potential opportunities.
Web3
Web3 is the decentralized version of the internet powered by blockchains. It brings user ownership, transparency, and permissionless apps.
Whale
Whale is a wallet or user holding a large amount of crypto. Whales can influence market movements.