The exchange of one coin or token for another coin or token that takes place without the need for a third party. Atomic Swaps rely on smart contracts to ensure both parties hold up their end of the agreement.

Artificial Intelligence. As machines advance in intelligence, they are capable of learning from their environments and completing more complex tasks.

A famous advocate of Bitcoin who has given speeches and presentations about Bitcoin all over the world.

An investor who has a net worth of over $1 million and/or an annual salary over $200,000-300,000.

Application Programmer Interface. A type of toolkit provided for developers for creating applications.

An event in which individuals that hold existing cryptocurrencies (like Bitcoin and Ethereum) are given tokens of a new cryptocurrency.

Wealthy individuals who contribute significant funds (usually over $1,000,000) to emerging projects.

The practice of buying and selling the same coins on different exchanges at the same time to take advantage of price differences.

The payment given to a miner for securing a blockchain that uses POW (Proof-of-Work) consensus

Komodo's Decentralized Exchange which connects all of its independent blockchains and allows atomic swaps.

The total number of blocks on a blockchain since the genesis block (first block) was mined.

A free, open-source web browser that aims to provide its users the best possible user experience by blocking trackers, hiding advertisements, respecting user privacy, and even offering a built in tipping mechanism that allows users to reward content creators.

Optimistic about the future of a cryptocurrency’s price.

A Bitcoin wallet that gives its users an aesthetically pleasing interface while still employing the core Bitcoin protocol.

Backtesting is the method of running your trading strategy on historical data to find out how well it would have performed.

A tool used to identify moments when an asset's price is relatively high or relatively low to inform trading decisions.

A short drop in a cryptocurrency’s price that makes investors think the price will continue falling. Instead, the price rises significantly following the drop, fooling the “bears.”  

Websites (available for most cryptocurrencies) that allow users to search an address or transaction ID to view its details.

A digital, distributed ledger which contains data for all the transactions that have ever taken place using a given cryptocurrency.

The original Bitcoin wallet, considered to be among the safest wallets available.

The first successful hard fork of Bitcoin that allows the protocol to grow and scale by removing its block size limit.

A condition that affects cryptocurrencies when the data stored reaches very large sizes due to increasing numbers of users and transactions. When blockchain bloat gets severe, transaction speed suffers.

A mechanism that destroys an amount of coins or tokens, thereby decreasing the total coin supply of a cryptocurrency. 

The time it takes to mine a new block.

The unofficial website of Bitcoin Core.

a high-yield ponzi scheme in the cryptocurrency market, guarantee profits to investors. Customer losses are estimated to have exceeded $1 billion and was shut down in January 2018.

BNB (Binance Coin) is an ERC20 token that lives on the Ethereum blockchain. The token has multiple forms of utility, essentially being the underlying gas that powers the Binance Ecosystem. Most important, it can be used to pay for trading fees on the exchange, obtaining the equivalent of a 50% discount on trades during the first year, 25% during the second year and so on.

An individual who believes that increasing Bitcoin’s block size would improve its scalability. Roger Ver is the most notable Big Blocker.

A segment of data recorded on the blockchain that can contain transactions and other information.

A blockchain scaling solution in which every user account has its own blockchain. Block lattices reduce blockchain bloat by storing transaction data separately from a cryptocurrency's main blockchain.

A trade on a popular cryptocurrency exchange.

Verifications of consensus by miners and/or nodes. After an individual sends payment on a blockchain, confirmations are required before the recipient can accept payment. 

An asset, of any kind, that a lender will accept to secure a loan. If the borrower doesn't pay back the loan -- the lender keeps or sells the asset.

Advocates of using strong encryption to evade government spying. Cypherpunks were heavily involved in the early development of Bitcoin.

No longer in production, these were physical coins created by Mike Caldwell that have private Bitcoin keys.

In the cryptocurrency sphere this term refers to storing cryptocurrency in a location that is offline and thus inaccessible by anyone on the internet.

The volume of coins being held and spent at a given time for a given cryptocurrency.

An irreversible list of all transactions that have ever occurred on a platform.

A method of encoding inputs to create unique outputs, especially for creating digital fingerprints.

An aspect of the Bitcoin Core wallet that allows users to specify which coins they wish to spend and which Change Addresses any remaining balance will be sent to.

The usage of remote servers (rather than personal computers) to store, manage, and process data.

An organization that operates to earn profits for its shareholders (coin holders) by creating value for the free market.

A feature which allows KyberNetwork to maintain high levels of liquidity. The DRP keeps reserves of cryptocurrencies and establishes rates of exchange between them, allowing any user to easily trade one crypto for another.

Distributed Denial of Service Attack. A means by which a malicious individual shuts down another individual's internet connection by overloading it with requests.

Any non-physical object of value, like a document, an audio file, or a logo, that can be owned and controlled.

Parts of the Internet that are not accessible through ordinary means, like search engines.

A network that requires special software (like TOR) to access. Websites on the Darknet are much more difficult to shut down than normal websites. The Darknet was one of the first communities to use cryptocurrencies for transactions.

The limiting or decreasing of a cryptocurrency's supply, which usually drives its price up.

Uses nodes spread out across many different locations to achieve decentralization.

The act of selling cryptocurrency.

An over/under guessing game that uses random number generators to output results, allowing individuals to bet using cryptocurrencies.

Delegated Proof of Stake. A consensus mechanism that has a blockchain's nodes vote on the correct version of the blockchain. 

A consensus mechanism that uses professional nodes to broadcast a version of the blockchain. If two thirds or more of the nodes agree, that block is written onto the chain. 

A famous problem that occurs when cryptocurrency is spent more than once. Miners and transaction finality ensure that double-spend cannot occur.

Software that allows its users the ability to store cryptocurrency on their personal computer.

Delayed Proof of Work, the consensus mechanism used by Komodo. dPoW allows one blockchain to take advantage of the security and hashing power of a second blockchain (Bitcoin, in Komodo's case). 

Software for storing cryptocurrency that offers decreased risk of losing funds because of its ability to generate unlimited addresses from a single starting point, or "seed."

A measure of how much hashing power (computing power) is required to find the next block on a blockchain. Difficulty increases over time on blockchains.

A third party used to facilitate transactions and increase security.

Ethereum Virtual Machine. A testing environment on the Ethereum network for executing smart contracts and promoting security.

An extremely secure messaging functionality offered by QRL.

Online platforms on which individuals can buy and sell cryptocurrencies.

A cryptocurrency created by Vitalik Buterin that runs on Ether (ETH). Ethereum was the first blockchain-based technology to make smart contracts and decentralized applications possible.

A website that sends users small amounts of cryptocurrency intermittently and make money by advertising other services.

A term used to describe the way that cryptocurrencies remove many of the inefficiencies and hassles inherent in alternative methods of transferring payment.

Paper money issued by governments as default currency. The US Dollar, Japenese Yen, Chinese Yuan, and Euro are all fiat currencies.

A CNBC show on which cryptocurrencies are frequently discussed.  

The analysis of the economic and political factors that affect the intrinsic value of an asset

A percentage of block reward that is paid to the founders of a cryptocurrency rather than to its miners. Zcash is a cryptocurrency with a Founders’ Reward.

An amount of coins paid to users for participating in PoS consensus.

Graphics Processing Unit. Hardware that can be used for mining some cryptocurrencies.

A fee which must be paid to execute network transactions.

The number of hashes a miner performs over a given period of time.

Someone who does not sell, but holds on to his coins. "HODL"  was originally a typo but it gained the status of a funny backronym: “Hold on for dear life”.

An online wallet for storying cryptocurrencies. Considered less secure than cold wallets.

The act of protecting an asset from risk. A hedge can protect against losses or even offset against gains.

The process of intermittently decreasing the block reward given to cryptocurrency miners by 50%.

A physical device that stores private keys.

The maximum amount of money a cryptocurrency’s founders will accept while raising money in exchange for early coins on their platform.

Created each time coins are sent to an address.

Initial Coin Offering. An event in which a cryptocurrency project “goes public,” selling early coins in exchange for funds.

Internal Revenue Service. A US tax collection agency that demands information from cryptocurrency exchanges for various reasons.

The process of increasing a cryptocurrency's supply, which usually drives its price down.

Invisible Internet Project. A network layer that facilitates anonymous, censorship-resistant communication between users.

A feature of Komodo that offers its users private payments. Jumblr works by exchanging the cryptocurrency being used for payment and mixing it among other cryptos prior to the making an anonymous transaction.

CEO of Bitmain, the largest distributor of cryptocurrency mining machines.

Know Your Customer. Information gathered by cryptocurrency exchanges in compliance with AML (Anti Money Laundering) laws.

Cryptocurrency that has had its origins intentionally obscured to hide evidence of illegal activities.

A cryptocurrency forked from Bitcoin known primarily for its decreased block time, which (theoretically) allows for faster transactions.

Purchasing a coin with the expectation to sell it at a higher price sometime in the future for a profit. Basically profiting from the rising price of an asset.

A network layer that functions on top of the Bitcoin blockchain and allows for a huge number of low-fee microtransactions.

An agreement that allows individuals to sell their computing power for the purposes of verifying transactions on a blockchain.

The process by which users on a PoS blockchain verify transactions and receive new coins for their participation.

A third party that enables anonymous transactions by grouping payments together, obscuring their sources.

Software that allows individuals to store their cryptocurrencies on handheld devices.

A node (device running the full software of a cryptocurrency) that fulfills more purposes than regular nodes - such as increasing privacy, providing instant transactions, and participating in governance.

A series of words that can be used to recover an account or wallet.

A fee paid to voluntary participants for using their computing power to verify transactions. When a miner mines a block they get a block reward as well as all the transaction fees in it.

When a blockchain features several levels for scalability and encryption purposes, it can be said to be "Multi-Layered."

A feature that requires several keys to authorize a single transaction, especially for dividing responsibility among separate parties.

An individual that volunteers computing power to verify transactions on a blockchain in exchange for block rewards.

Metamask is a Chrome extension which allows users to store and transact Ethereum and other ERC-20 tokens.

A group of people online who agree to combine their mining rigs into one for more collective mining power. They split rewards evenly based on each person's mining power.

The practice of borrowing money to buy and sell assets.

The process of allowing two different cryptocurrencies using the same consensus algorithm to be mined simultaneously. 

A mining rig is a computer used for mining cryptocurrencies. The rig might be a dedicated computer or it could be a computer that fills other needs too.

The total value of a cryptocurrency. Calculated by multiplying a coin’s price by its total supply.

A cryptocurrency that allows data (and transactions) to be written onto its blockchain.

Near-Field Communication. Enables devices located close to each other to transmit data without the need for internet connection.

A computer that runs a cryptocurrency’s software and validates transactions.

Digital agreements between users on NEO's platform that are carried out automatically when their terms are met.

A third-party entity capable of transmitting reliable information to a blockchain so that smart-contracts can be executed.

Transfer of value that takes place outside of a blockchain for reduced fees and quicker transaction time.

A term used to describe software that is made available online so that any individual can view its code and submit improvements.

A grouping of addresses that receive coins in a cryptocurrency transaction.

Proof of Stake. A consensus mechanism in which individuals use their holdings of a cryptocurrency to secure the platform in exchange for rewards.

Private keys are used to spend cryptocurrencies.

Proof of Stake and Trust. A consensus mechanism used by Waltonchain that relies on token holders (nodes) to verify transactions while retaining information about nodes' past performance to give higher rewards to the most reliable nodes.

Freedom from surveillance.

PoP for short. A consensus mechanism used by DigixDAO to track the movements of physical assets, identify their ownership, and ensure their security.

Any cryptocurrency that focuses on maintaining private transactions between users. Examples are Dash, ZCash, and Monero.

The consensus algorithm introduced by Bitcoin. PoW requires miners to compete against each other to add new block and earn rewards.

Proof of Work. A consensus mechanism for verifying transactions with computing power that creates new coins in the process.

An address that individuals share with others to receive cryptocurrency.  

A cryptocurrency's main blockchain which connects its sidechains or subchains.

A physical piece of paper containing a private key, a public key, and often corresponding QR codes.

Occurs when a cryptocurrency’s price shoots up and then quickly crashes. Pump and dumps are often coordinated manipulations of the market by groups of individuals for profit.

Decentralized networks in which individuals interact with each other directly.

A social attack in which a malicious individual masquerades as a trustworthy person in an attempt to fool the victim into giving up personal information (like passwords).

Outputs of an algorithm that can be examined and verified. This term is commonly used in cryptocurrency gambling.

A portion of the total supply of a cryptocurrency reserved for its founders. These funds are often marked as funds to pay developers or fund future ventures, but cryptocurencies with premines are generally viewed as less legitimate and fair those without premines.

Pseudonymity is an almost anonymous state in which users have a unique identifier that is different from their real name.

A code containing information that can be read by a device with a camera.

An advanced form of computing that allows extremely complex problems to be solved very quickly. For cryptocurrency, quantum computing is important because once it is advanced enough, it may be capable of hacking private keys.

Radio Frequency Identification chips. RFID chips are attached to physical objects to make them easier to identify and track.

Often referred to as Bitcoin Jesus, he was the first major Bitcoin and cryptocurrency investor.

A platform that connects banks, payment providers, and digital asset exchanges to provide frictionless transactions.

A mathematical mechanism for combining a public address with a private address to ensure authenticity and prevent forging.

A type of password that an individual can use to recover their wallet.

An online black market on the Darknet best known as a place individuals could buy and sell illegal goods and services. One of the first communities to use Bitcoin as currency.

A feature of PIVX that allows users to complete transactions instantly without needing to wait for confirmations.

A fraudulent endeavor. In the cryptocurrency world, this often refers to the practice of fooling investors in some way.

An altcoin that is marketed as technology with potential, but is really just sold to make money with no promise of a future use case.

Price-stable cryptocurrencies that achieve stability through pegging their value to another asset, like the US dollar.

An indication of support for a feature, often sent out by miners to inform the general public of their opinion.

An individual who believes that the blocks in Bitcoin should be kept small so that anyone can run a full node.  

An alternative to mining rewards. Staking rewards are earned by putting a certain amount of your cryptocurrency up as a 'stake' to confirm transactions. Rewards are given for doing this.

The minimum amount of funds that a cryptocurrency's founders wish to raise in an ICO. If an ICO does not meet its soft cap, it will often be canceled until a later date.

A memory-intensive hash function designed discourage hacking attempts by requiring large amounts of RAM. It is used by Litecoin, as an alternative to SHA-256.

Simplified Payment Verification. Allows wallets to function by letting them connect to local nodes that have full copies of the blockchain rather than requiring download of the full blockchain (like Bitcoin Core).

An individual who predicts future prices of assets and makes bets based on their predictions.

The process by which a full database is split into smaller databases called shards. Sharding helps with the scalability of cryptocurrencies.

A popular exchange service created by Eric Voorhees that allows individuals to trade most altcoins anonymously for a small fee.

A programming language used to create smart contracts.

Smart Contract. An agreement between two parties that carries itself out once its terms are met.

A block that has been worked on by a miner but is not included in the blockchain because another miner successfully completes another block first.

Selling, before buying, and intending to repurchase the stock at a lower price to realize the profit from a coin/asset decreasing in value. Basically profiting from the falling price of an asset.

A cryptocurrency created using another platform (like Ethereum). Tokens operate by using the technology of the platform on which they were created.

A measure that describes how many coins of a given cryptocurrency can exist (after all mining is completed, if applicable).

The practice of creating digital assets that represent real-world physical assets.

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. A set of protocols that allow multiple computers to communicate.

In the cryptocurrency sphere a Tether is a type of coin. This coin is ‘tethered’ or paired 1-to-1 with the U.S. Dollar.

A measure of how frequently and how heavily a cryptocurrency is bought and/or sold during a given time period. 

An identical version of a protocol that uses fake money to discover bugs without the consequences such bugs would have on a Mainnet protocol.

An amount of value that must be paid to transfer value on a blockchain.

Software preprogrammed to buy, sell, short, long or execute other trading strategies and commands when the owner is absent. Trading while asleep or away from the keyboard.

A consensus method that allows users to transact anonymously and requires relatively little electricity. An alternative to PoW (Proof of Work) and PoS (Proof of Stake). 

User-Issued Assets, Tokens that can be created on the BitShares network.

An adult person without an account at a bank or other financial institution. 

A unit of currency consumed in a process. For example, an arcade token that gets used when a game is played or a coin like BNB Binance token, which is used to pay exchange fees.

Addresses that hold cryptocurrency. Instead of random alphanumeric strings, however, users with vanity addresses can choose specific words and phrases for their addresses, similar to vanity license plates,

Coins which haven’t ever been spent. Virgin coins were mined and left alone.

A highly respected programmer responsible for writing Ethereum's white paper and co-creating Ethereum's technology.

An electronic transaction in which value is sent from one party to another.

The filename which stores public and private keys for a full node.

A technical document that outlines a project’s features, technology, and vision.

eXtensive Business Reporting Language. A language for defining and exchanging financial data that makes extracting useful data from a large body of data easier.

The native currency of Monero.

Two Factor Authentication. A protective measure that uses one-time passwords to prevent keyloggers from gaining unauthorized access to accounts.

A formula that uses data to make predictions about how financially secure businesses are.

Payment that has been broadcast but is still pending inclusion on a blockchain.