Crypto terms, explained plainly

124 short definitions and a handful of guides. Every term links to the coins and charts where you will meet it, and the ones the model actually uses say so.

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A

  • AirdropOn-chain

    Free tokens distributed to wallets, usually to reward past use or to bootstrap a protocol.

B

  • BlockOn-chain

    A batch of transactions appended to the chain, with a header that links it backwards.

  • A site that shows the raw contents of a chain: transactions, addresses and contracts.

C

  • ConfirmationOn-chain

    A block added on top of the one containing your transaction, increasing finality.

E

  • Net movement of a coin onto or off exchanges, read as a selling or holding signal.

G

  • Gas feeOn-chain

    The fee paid to have a transaction included in a block; priced by network demand.

H

  • Hash rateOn-chain

    The total computing power securing a proof-of-work chain.

M

  • MinerOn-chain

    An operator that produces proof-of-work blocks and earns the block reward and fees.

O

  • Facts recorded directly by a blockchain: transfers, balances, contract state.

W

  • WhaleOn-chain

    A holder large enough that its transfers can move the market or fill an order book.