Glossary
Crypto glossary
Plain-language definitions of common crypto terms. Tap a term to read the full explainer.
Basics
- Cryptocurrency
- Digital money and assets managed on a blockchain, with no central controller.
- Blockchain
- A shared, tamper-resistant ledger that everyone keeps a copy of. Learn more →
- Bitcoin（BTC）
- The first cryptocurrency; a fixed-supply (21M) store of value. Learn more →
- Halving
- Every ~4 years (210,000 blocks) the mining reward — new BTC issuance — is cut in half. Learn more →
- Mining（Proof of Work・PoW）
- Spending computing power to confirm transactions and secure Bitcoin (Proof of Work). Learn more →
- Satoshi（sat）
- The smallest unit of bitcoin (1 BTC = 100,000,000 satoshi); also the alias of its creator. Learn more →
- Supply cap（21 million）
- Bitcoin's total supply is fixed at 21 million coins — no more can ever be created. Learn more →
- Lightning Network
- Bitcoin's layer-2 for fast, cheap payments. Learn more →
- Taproot
- A 2021 Bitcoin upgrade improving efficiency and privacy. Learn more →
- Bitcoin ETF
- An exchange-traded fund tracking bitcoin; US spot ETFs were approved in Jan 2024.
- Ethereum
- A programmable blockchain for smart contracts; its coin is ETH. Learn more →
- DeFi
- Financial services run by smart contracts instead of banks.
- NFT
- A token proving ownership of a unique digital item.
- Stablecoin
- A crypto asset pegged to a currency such as the US dollar.
- Staking
- Locking crypto to help secure a network and earn rewards.
- Smart contract
- A program on a blockchain that runs automatically when conditions are met.
- Gas fee
- The cost of running a transaction on a blockchain; rises with congestion.
- Layer 2
- Networks that process transactions off the main chain to cut fees and congestion.
- Altcoin
- Any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin.
- RWA
- Tokenizing real-world assets (bonds, real estate, cash) on a blockchain.
- DePIN
- Token-incentivized networks that crowd-build real-world physical infrastructure.
Safety
- Self-custody
- Holding your own keys instead of trusting an exchange — being your own bank. Learn more →
- Cold wallet（Hardware wallet）
- A wallet kept offline for safer long-term storage. Learn more →
- DEX（CEX）
- A decentralized exchange (smart-contract run) vs a centralized, company-run one.
- Wallet
- Software or hardware that holds the keys controlling your crypto. Learn more →
- Seed phrase（Private key）
- The 12–24 word master key to your wallet. Never share it. Learn more →
Japan
- Exchange
- Where you buy and sell crypto. In Japan it must be FSA-registered. Learn more →
- FSA
- Japan's Financial Services Agency, which regulates crypto exchanges.
- JVCEA
- Japan's self-regulatory body for crypto exchanges.