A metric for measuring bitcoin inactivity. Each day a Bitcoin remains unspent is another day added to its total number of Days Destroyed.
Days Destroyed
dPoW
Dynamic Proof of Work (dPoW) is currently in the early stages of development. Not many new blockchain projects are experimenting with it.
Darksend
An aspect of the Darkcoin crpytocurrency that allows users to make anonymous transactions.
Darknet
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.
Dynamic Reserve Pool
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.
DDoS Attack
Distributed Denial of Service Attack. A means by which a malicious individual shuts down another individual's internet connection by overloading it with requests.
dApps
Distributed Apps. Applications without centralized control.
DEX
Decentralized exchange. A platform (which isn't controlled by any single authority) that allows users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies.
DDoS
Distributed Denial of Service. A means by which a malicious individual shuts down another individual's internet connection by overloading it with requests.
DAG
Directed Acyclic Graphs. Also referred to as “Tangle.” DAG is an alternative to the “chain of blocks” architecture used in many crypto projects.
Deepweb
Parts of the Internet that are not accessible through ordinary means, like search engines.
Dice
An over/under guessing game that uses random number generators to output results, allowing individuals to bet using cryptocurrencies.
Digital Wallet Address
A digital wallet address is a combination of letters and numbers that pseudonymously represent an account number for digital holdings.
Deflation
The limiting or decreasing of a cryptocurrency's supply, which usually drives its price up.
Distributed Network
Uses nodes spread out across many different locations to achieve decentralization.
Demurrage
A tax on cryptocurrency holdings that encourages spending coins because they are constantly being destroyed.
Desktop Wallet
Software that allows its users the ability to store cryptocurrency on their personal computer.
Dump
The act of selling cryptocurrency.
Deterministic Wallet
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."
DPoS
Delegated Proof of Stake. A consensus mechanism that has a blockchain's nodes vote on the correct version of the blockchain.
Dust Transactions
Transfers of value that are too small to be sent due to the proportionately high fee incurred.
Double Spend
A famous problem that occurs when cryptocurrency is spent more than once. Miners and transaction finality ensure that double-spend cannot occur.
Digital Asset
Any non-physical object of value, like a document, an audio file, or a logo, that can be owned and controlled.
Dogecoin
A cryptocurrency that uses the “Doge” meme with a cult-like following.
Digital Identity
A set of data used to represent an entity on a network or on the Internet.
DAO
Decentralized Autonomous Organization. An organization governed by smart contracts founded to allocate funds to cryptocurrency projects.
Decentralized
Distributed amongst its users rather than controlled by one group or within one certain area.
Delegated Byzantine Fault Tolerance
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.
Digital Asset Array
DAA. A collection or portfolio of assorted cryptocurrencies. For example, one Digital Asset Array could contain BTC, ETH, and DASH.
Delegated Proof of Stake
DPoS. A consensus mechanism that has a blockchain's nodes vote on the correct version of the blockchain.
Desktop Client
An application created to run on a user's PC.
Distributed Ledger
A list of transactions that exists on every computer that elects to run blockchain software.
Decentralized Identity Foundation (DIF)
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.
Difficulty
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.
Distributed Autonomous Company
An organization that operates to earn profits for its shareholders (coin holders) by creating value for the free market.
Digital Signature
A unique, encrypted output that cannot be duplicated. Useful for creating digital identities and confirming authenticity.
DeFi
DeFi stands for Decentralized Finance. DeFi is a new financial system based on the use of decentralized blockchains and smart contracts to create new types of financial products.