Address
A public identifier used to receive assets on a blockchain.
06 — Reference
Glossary
The language of crypto is dense. These definitions keep the important distinctions intact without making them harder than necessary.
Altcoin
Any cryptoasset other than Bitcoin.
Block
A batch of transactions added to a blockchain.
Blockchain
A replicated ledger whose ordered blocks are cryptographically linked.
Bridge
Software that transfers representations of assets or messages between networks.
Consensus
The process by which network participants agree on valid state.
Custody
Control and safeguarding of private keys.
DAO
A digitally coordinated organisation whose rules may be partly encoded in smart contracts.
DeFi
Financial applications built on public blockchain infrastructure.
Gas
A unit used to price computation and transaction execution.
Halving
A programmed reduction in Bitcoin’s block subsidy.
Hash
A fixed-length output that fingerprints data.
Layer 2
A system built above a base blockchain to improve scale or functionality.
Liquidity
The ability to trade without causing a large price movement.
Mining
Proof-of-work competition used to order transactions and secure a network.
Node
Software that validates, stores, or relays blockchain data.
Private key
Secret data used to authorise cryptographic signatures.
Proof of stake
Consensus secured by validators who lock capital and risk penalties.
Proof of work
Consensus secured through costly computational work.
Seed phrase
A human-readable backup from which wallet keys can be derived.
Smart contract
Code deployed to a blockchain that executes under network rules.
Stablecoin
A token designed to track a reference asset, commonly the US dollar.
Staking
Committing assets to participate in proof-of-stake security or related services.
Token
A blockchain-recorded unit representing a digital asset or right.
Validator
A participant that proposes or attests to blocks in proof-of-stake systems.
Wallet
Software or hardware used to manage keys and interact with networks.