Highly specialized computing machines that are far more efficient for mining than CPUs and GPUs. Jihan Wu (a Chinese businessman) is responsible for creating and selling many ASIC Miners.

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

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.

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.

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

Anti-Money Laundering. AML laws and restrictions require exchanges to obtain personal information about their customers and their activities.

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

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

A company led by cypherpunk Adam Back that promotes second layer scaling solutions for Bitcoin.

A transaction that combines multiple transactions into one for increased efficiency and decreased fees.

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

Optimistic about the future of a cryptocurrency’s price.

The time it takes to mine a new block.

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 market in which most (or all) prices are rising.

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

Pessimistic about the future of a cryptocurrency’s price.

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.

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.

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.

The amount of data that can be stored in one block of a given blockchain. For example, the Block Size limit of Bitcoin is 1MB. Larger block size allows for more transactions per block. Thus, it’s not that transactions are “faster” or “slower”. It’s that transactions may be seemingly faster because the network is handling more transactions at a time.

A term used to describe cryptocurrency projects that facilitate programmable transactions rather than simply acting as methods to store and transfer value. Projects like Ethereum are known as Blockchain 2.0 contracts because they allow their users to create and execute smart contracts and develop decentralized apps.

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

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

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

The first blockchain-based network 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. 

A new version of the Bitcoin Protocol devloped using the Javascript programming language.

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 first exchange that allowed individuals to buy and sell cryptocurrencies.

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

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 shorthand form of Cryptocurrency. 

A paper written by Eric Huges that outlines Cypherpunks’ philosophy and vision. This Manifesto was a big influence on many early cryptocurrency enthusiasts.

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.

A cryptocurrency that relies solely on its own technology to function.

An application created to run on a user's PC.

An aspect of the Darkcoin crpytocurrency that allows users to make anonymous transactions.

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). 

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.

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

A set of data used to represent an entity on a network or on the Internet.

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

Decentralized Autonomous Organization. An organization governed by smart contracts founded to allocate funds to cryptocurrency projects.

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

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 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.

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

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

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

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

Transfers of value that are too small to be sent due to the proportionately high fee incurred. 

A unique, encrypted output that cannot be duplicated. Useful for creating digital identities and confirming authenticity.

Online platforms on which individuals can buy and sell cryptocurrencies.

An extremely secure messaging functionality offered by QRL.

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.

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

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

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 idea that all units in a money supply are exactly equal. Fungibility is considered to be an essential aspect of effective currencies by many economists.

A change in a cryptocurrency’s software that makes it incompatible with the original version. For example, any block size increase in the Bitcoin protocol constitutes a hard fork.

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

A change in the original code of a software.

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 programming language used to develop several cryptocurrencies (including Cardano and Nanocoin).

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.

Output emitted from an algorithm for maintaining consensus on a blockchain.

Hashgraph is a consensus alternative to blockchain. It uses a gossip protocol to spread transactions across the network by sending data to randomly chosen neighbors.

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

Internet Protocol Address. A series of numbers and periods used to identify computers communicating through a network.

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

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.

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

Internet of Things. The system that will digitally connect physical objects, making them identifiable and trackable online.

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

An algorithm used to adjust mining difficulty so that all miners are given a fair chance at earning block rewards.

Software that records every button press of an individual’s keyboard. Often used to hack into accounts by recording passwords.

Borrowed money used to trade assets.

The measure of how quickly an asset can be exchanged for usable currency.

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 cryptocurrency meme, short for Lamborghinis. When investors' coins' prices go to the Moon, they can buy Lambos.

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

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

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

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

A cryptocurrency meme that refers to the skyrocketing of a coin's price. When Hodlers’ coins go to the Moon, they can all buy Lambos.

The process by which new coins are created as transactions on a network are verified.

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.

A cryptocurrency exchange led by Mark Karpeles that allegedly lost millions of dollars in user funds.

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 popular online wallet that supports Ether and most ERC20 tokens.

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

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

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

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

Operations Security. Refers to how well assets are protected.

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.

The initiator of communication on a cryptocurrency network.

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 rapid rise in a cryptocurrency’s price.

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

PoI stands for Proof-of-Importance. It is a new consensus algorithm that requires users to stake currency to participate in the consensus. Compared to PoS, it adds importance to staking. Thus, it takes into account one’s involvement in the network. PoI was introduced by NEM.

A process of storing information that cannot be changed or deleted.

Decentralized networks in which individuals interact with each other directly.

A cryptocurrency that uses both PoW and PoS in its consensus mechanism to offer increased security.

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).

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.

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).

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

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.

Freedom from surveillance.

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

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

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.

A method of increasing monetary supply (and lowering interest rates) by introducing new money to the market from a central authority.

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

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

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

A plan that sets goals and deadlines for a project's future development.

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

A computer that is far more powerful than an ordianry computer due to its superior performance.

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.

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.

A feature of the ARK cryptocurrency which allows separate blockchains to connect with each other and communicate.

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.

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

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 derogatory term used to describe altcoins that are based on faulty technology or have little promise for the future.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

The act of locking up one's coins or tokens to help verify transactions for cryptocurrencies with Proof of Stake consensus mechanisms. Stakers earn staking rewards for providing this service.

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.

The Securities and Exchange Commision. A regulatory US agency responsible for the investigation and shut down of several cryptocurrency-related projects.

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

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

An individual who buys and sells cryptocurrency.

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

The ability of a system to be trusted without the need of trusting the individuals with which you are transacting.

A feature of cryptocurrency exchanges that makes it easy for individuals to buy one cryptocurrency with a different cryptocurrency. For example, a BTC/DASH trading pair allows an individual to buy DASH with BTC or vice versa.

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

A computing system that can perform a whole set of computational functions is considered “Turing Complete.”

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

Transaction.

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

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.

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 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.

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

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.

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

A very wealthy individual capable of making large trades.

The native currency of Monero.

Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Argument of Knowledge. Zk-SNARKs is a technology which allows cryptocurrencies to shield transaction information from uninvolved parties.

Even millions of dollars worth of security won't protect an individual if someone threatens to hit them with a $5 wrench unless they give up their passwords. The best defense is keeping quiet about your cryptocurrency holdings.

A hypothetical attack in which a malicious individual gains control of more than half of a cryptocurrency’s hashing power and is then able to re-write old blocks, allowing double-spend.