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.
Block Size
Block
A segment of data recorded on the blockchain that can contain transactions and other information.
Blockchain 2.0
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.
Blockstream
A company led by cypherpunk Adam Back that promotes second layer scaling solutions for Bitcoin.
Block Explorer
Websites (available for most cryptocurrencies) that allow users to search an address or transaction ID to view its details.
Blockchain Bloat
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.
Block Reward
The payment given to a miner for securing a blockchain that uses POW (Proof-of-Work) consensus
Batched transaction
A transaction that combines multiple transactions into one for increased efficiency and decreased fees.
Burn
A mechanism that destroys an amount of coins or tokens, thereby decreasing the total coin supply of a cryptocurrency.
Block Height
The total number of blocks on a blockchain since the genesis block (first block) was mined.
BTC
Bitcoin’s ticker symbol.
Block Lattice
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.
Bullish
Optimistic about the future of a cryptocurrency’s price.
BIP
Bitcoin Improvement Protocol. New feature proposed for Bitcoin are BIPs.
BarterDEX
Komodo's Decentralized Exchange which connects all of its independent blockchains and allows atomic swaps.
Bull
A trader or speculator who believes cryptocurrency prices will rise.
Bear Trap
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.”
Brave
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.
Bull Market
A market in which most (or all) prices are rising.
Bitcoin Core
The original Bitcoin wallet, considered to be among the safest wallets available.
Bag Holder
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."
Bearish
Pessimistic about the future of a cryptocurrency’s price.
Bitcoin Cash
The first successful hard fork of Bitcoin that allows the protocol to grow and scale by removing its block size limit.
Block time
The time it takes to mine a new block.
Bear
A trader or speculator who believes cryptocurrency prices will fall.
Bit
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.
BNB
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.
Bear Market
A market in which most (or all) prices are falling.
Bitcoin
The first blockchain-based cryptocurrency, launched in 2009. Bitcoin remains the most influential and widely recognized coin. All other cryptocurrencies are known as "altcoins," simply because they are not Bitcoin.
Bankroll
The amount of money one has available to him/her.
Bitcoin Network
The first blockchain-based peer-to-peer protocol that allows its users to store and transfer wealth.
BitcoinTalk
A forum of myriad boards where enthusiasts and experts alike can go to discuss various cryptocurrency related topics.
Bitcoin Protocol
The first blockchain-based network that allows its users to store and transfer wealth.
Bitcoin.org
The unofficial website of Bitcoin Core.
Bitconnect
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.
BitcoinJS
A new version of the Bitcoin Protocol developed using the Javascript programming language.
BitcoinQT
A Bitcoin wallet that gives its users an aesthetically pleasing interface while still employing the core Bitcoin protocol.
Bitmain
The largest distributor of ASIC miners, run by Jihan Wu.
Backtest
Backtesting is the method of running your trading strategy on historical data to find out how well it would have performed.
Bollinger Bands
A tool used to identify moments when an asset's price is relatively high or relatively low to inform trading decisions.
Bull Trap
A short rise in a cryptocurrency’s price that makes investors think the price will continue to rise. Instead, the price falls significantly following the rise, fooling the “bulls.”
Bank run
A bank run occurs when many clients withdraw their money from a bank at the same time, because they believe the bank may cease to function in the near future. Banks do not hold everyone's money at once, they lend it out. So if everyone tries to get their money at the same time, they can't.
Blockchain
A digital, distributed ledger which contains data for all the transactions that have ever taken place using a given cryptocurrency.
Big Blocker
An individual who believes that increasing Bitcoin’s block size would improve its scalability. Roger Ver is the most notable Big Blocker.