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

A process for solving a mathematical problem. In blockchains consensus algorithms are used to verify transactions.

All-Time Low. The lowest price a cryptocurrency has ever reached.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

A trader or speculator who believes cryptocurrency prices will rise.

The amount of money one has available to him/her.

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.”  

A regretful investor who bought a crypto (or cryptos) believing they would appreciate in value. Instead, the crypto decreased in value and the investor is left "holding bags."

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

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

A market in which most (or all) prices are falling.

1 Bit is equal to 1/1,000,000 of a Bitcoin. Not to be confused with the computer science definition in which 1 bit equals 0.125 bytes.

A forum of myriad boards where enthusiasts and experts alike can go to discuss various cryptocurrency related topics.

The first blockchain-based peer-to-peer protocol that allows its users to store and transfer wealth.

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

Someone who uses Bitcoin regularly or is heavily involved in its technology.

The unofficial website of Bitcoin Core.

The largest distributor of ASIC miners, run by Jihan Wu.

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

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.

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

An offline wallet for holding cryptocurrencies. Considered more secure than hot wallets.

A general agreement among participants using and mining a cryptocurrency.

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

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.

Controlled by one group or within one certain area.

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

Free movement of coins between individuals.

A group of businesses and organizations working together to build a globally-accepted identity verification system. The DIF uses blockchain technology to create a system that doesn't require a centralized authority for purposes of identification.

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

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

The act of selling cryptocurrency.

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

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

A cryptocurrency that uses the “Doge” meme with a cult-like following.

DAA. A collection or portfolio of assorted cryptocurrencies. For example, one Digital Asset Array could contain BTC, ETH, and DASH.

A tax on cryptocurrency holdings that encourages spending coins because they are constantly being destroyed.

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.

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

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 metric for measuring bitcoin inactivity. Each day a Bitcoin remains unspent is another day added to its total number of Days Destroyed.

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.

Directed Acyclic Graphs. Also referred to as “Tangle.” DAG is an alternative to the “chain of blocks” architecture used in many crypto projects.

Decentralized exchange. A platform (which isn't controlled by any single authority) that allows users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies.

Transforming data into unrecognizable code that can only be decoded with the exact decryption key.

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.

The native tokens of the Ethereum platform. Required in order to send transactions or execute smart contracts.

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

Fear Uncertainty and Doubt. The emotional (rather than logical) belief that cryptocurrency prices will fall.

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.

A change in a cryptocurrency’s software that does not make it incompatible with the original version.

A hypothetical society in which no one is forced to do anything against their wishes and all actions are voluntary.

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

A change in the original code of a software.

Fear of Missing Out. Investors with FOMO buy cryptocurrency (emotionally rather than logically) for fear of missing out on profits.

A fee which must be paid to execute network transactions.

An open-source database for developers to create and share computer coding with a large community.

A consensus mechanism that employs both Proof of Stake and Proof of Work algorithms.

A physical device that stores private keys.

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”.

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

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

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

The power of a mining rig. Similar in concept to the Horse Power of a vehicle.

The term used to refer to blockchains to describe the way in which blocks cannot be changed after they are recorded.  

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

When an asset (i.e. coin) cannot be easily bought or sold due to a lack of buyers or sellers in a market. If there are only a handful of buyers or sellers the price may be substantially higher (due to few sellers charging a premium) or substantially lower (due to a few buyers demanding discounts).

Initial Public Offering. An event in which a company “goes public,” selling early shares of their business in exchange for funds.

A request for communication from one node to another node.

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

A popular programming language.

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.

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.

A type of exchange used to make it easier for individuals to exchange assets for usable currency.

A cryptocurrency that is very popular on the Darknet because it is considered to be more anonymous than Bitcoin and similar coins.

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

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

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.

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

A method of intentionally obscuring the source of illegally-obtained funds.

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

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.

A pre-planned trade set to execute if a cryptocurrency reaches a certain price.

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

A trade in which an investor sells their position to repay the lender of a loan.

The version of a protocol that uses real money. A cryptocurrency is generally considered to be “live” after the first Mainnet block (the genesis block) is mined.

A sub-unit of Bitcoin: 1000 mBTC equal 1 BTC.

John McAfee (the creator of McAfee antivirus) is a cybersecurity mogul who is known for promoting cryptocurrency and speculating about altcoins.

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.

An individual that trades cryptocurrencies but does not have a high net worth or high salary, and is not elgiible for certain investment opportunities.

The quality by which cryptocurrencies become more useful as more people use them.

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

A popular framework for JavaScript code to be written in. 

A block that is no longer a part of the original blockchain because it was not verified by the majority of miners.

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

Over The Counter Exchange, also known as Off-Exchange Trading. Trades that occur between two parties rather than using a centralized exchange.

Cardano's Proof-of-stake algorithm. It is used to randomly pick the next node to produce a block in. Ouroboros divides physical time into epochs, and then slots. Slot leaders have the sole right to produce one block and are chosen from the group of stakeholders.

Decentralized networks in which individuals interact with each other directly.

Proof-of-Importance is a consensus algorithm similar to PoS. Nodes "vest" currency to participate in the creation of blocks. Unlike PoS, Proof-of-Importance quantifies a person’s support of the network. NEM is using Proof-of-Importance.

A consensus mechanism for verifying a blockchain in which miners send coins to an unspendable address

a fraudulent type of operation where a company attracts investors to send money, with expected profits in return. The company pays back investor profits using later investors’ money. Once the company can no longer attract new investors, then payments cannot be made to clients, the company collapses and investors lose money.

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

PoS. A method of minting new coins and securing a platform by allowing users to stake their coins and receive more coins as a reward. Introduced as an energy efficient alternative to PoW (Proof of Work).

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.

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.

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

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

Private keys are used to spend cryptocurrencies.

Freedom from surveillance.

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

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

Similar to a password but often longer. Where a password is generally a single word -- a passphrase can be a combination of words.

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

Peer-to-Peer. Refers to networks in which individuals connect to each other rather than a central authority.

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

QRTs. Customizable tokens that can be created using Quantum Resistant Ledger. QRTs are resistant to attacks from quantum computing.

Transfer of currency across a large distance, usually across borders.

An individual that contributes their tokens to Kyber Network's Dynamic Reserve Pool to improve the platform's liquidity.

A site that aggregates a nearly endless range of topics. Subreddits exist within Reddit to focus on specific topics.

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.

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

An individual that volunteers to lock some of their coins or tokens up to verify transactions on a blockchain in exchange for staking rewards.

All processes involved in delivering products and services from their providers to their customers.

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

Segregated Witnesses. A protocol implemented by Bitcoin to increase transaction speed. SegWit allows more transactions to be written into a single block on a blockchain.

A digital asset on the Steem blockchain that can be launched by any user for the purpose of monetizing online content and encouraging positive user participation.

A measure of how easily a cryptocurrency will be able to handle more users and increased transactions.

The anonymous person or group that created Bitcoin.

Any cryptocurrency pegged to a stable asset for the purpose of reducing price volatility.

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.

A blockchain that runs separately from a cryptocurrency's main blockchain, using the native currency to carry out transactions. Subchains help scalability by reducing the amount of data stored on a cryptocurrency's main blockchain, often called the "parent chain."

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

Typically a person posing as a legitimate user of a product but who is, in fact, being paid or otherwise compensated to promote said product.

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

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

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.

An individual who buys and sells cryptocurrency.

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

A sequence of numbers used to identify the moment in time that a transaction occurred.

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

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 measure that describes the strength of association between an address and earlier transaction addresses.

Transaction.

Transactions per second. A measure which describes how fast a cryptocurrency can handle its users' transactions.

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

Software that changes an environment irreversibly after its release. For example, once Bitcoin’s code was launched and distributed amongst many machines, it virtually could not be stopped.

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.

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

A measure that describes how rapidly an asset tends to fluctuate in price.

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

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

Software or devices that contain public and private keys for storing cryptocurrencies

A very wealthy individual capable of making large trades.

A list of registered and approved participants in an ICO. Whitelists are used to exclude non-accredited investors in order to better comply with regulations.

The native currency of Monero.

Ticker for Bitcoin used on Kraken and some other exchanges. Same as BTC.

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

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

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