In partnership with
Today I’m taking a break from posting a regular news and price update edition.
Instead, I’m doing an educational piece covering the top 21 crypto terminologies.
I have grouped them into different categories for easier learning, with brief explanations.
Foundations
Blockchain: A decentralized, tamper-resistant digital ledger that records all transactions across a network of computers.
Cryptocurrency: Digital money secured by cryptography, usually running on a blockchain; includes coins (own chain) and tokens (on another chain).
Decentralization: No single party controls the network; many independent nodes maintain and validate the ledger.
Fiat: Government‑issued money like INR, USD, or EUR, used as the main on‑ramp/off‑ramp to crypto.
Ad Break!
Please, check out my sponsor for the day: The Daily Upside.
The Briefing Leaders Rely On.
In a landscape flooded with hype and surface-level reporting, The Daily Upside delivers what business leaders actually need: clear, concise, and actionable intelligence on markets, strategy, and business innovation.
Founded by former bankers and veteran business journalists, it's built for decision-makers — not spectators. From macroeconomic shifts to sector-specific trends, The Daily Upside helps executives stay ahead of what’s shaping their industries.
That’s why over 1 million readers, including C-suite executives and senior decision-makers, start their day with it.
No noise. No jargon. Just business insight that drives results.
… back to the article 👇
Wallets and keys
Wallet: App or device to send, receive, and store crypto by managing your keys; can be custodial (third party holds keys) or non‑custodial (you hold keys).
Public address: Shareable identifier where others can send you crypto; derived from a public key and safe to share.
Private key / seed phrase: Secret that proves ownership and signs transactions; if someone gets it, they can take all funds, and if you lose it, access is gone.
Custodial vs non‑custodial: Custodial = service (like an exchange) controls keys; non‑custodial = you control keys, in line with “not your keys, not your coins.”
Networks and fees
Node: A computer that participates in the network by storing data and often validating transactions/blocks.
PoW (Proof of Work): Consensus where miners use computing power to secure the network and add blocks (e.g., Bitcoin).
PoS (Proof of Stake): Consensus where validators stake coins to secure the network and earn rewards (e.g., modern Ethereum).
Gas / network fee: Fee paid to get transactions processed and included in a block, usually in the chain’s native coin.
Trading and market basics
Exchange (CEX / DEX): Place to trade crypto; centralized exchanges (CEX) are run by companies, decentralized exchanges (DEX) use smart contracts and your own wallet.
Market cap: Asset value = price × circulating supply; a rough measure of size and relative importance.
Liquidity: How easily you can buy/sell without big price moves; higher liquidity usually means tighter spreads and less slippage.
Volatility: How much and how fast prices move; crypto is known for high volatility, which increases both risk and potential reward.
DeFi and smart contracts
Smart contract: Code on a blockchain that executes automatically when conditions are met, powering apps like DEXs and lending platforms.
DeFi (Decentralized Finance): Financial services (trading, lending, borrowing, yield) built with smart contracts instead of traditional intermediaries.
Staking: Locking tokens (on PoS chains or in protocols) to help secure the network or provide liquidity in return for rewards.
Culture and risk mindset
HODL: Slang for long‑term holding regardless of short‑term volatility, originally from a misspelling of “hold.”
DYOR: “Do Your Own Research,” a reminder to study projects and risks yourself instead of blindly following others.
Meme Corner
Closing Note
These terminologies shall help you get a hang of what the crypto ecosystem is all about.
If you want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee here. Thank you.