Crypto Glossary: Commonly Used Terms

Crypto glossary of terms commonly used by cryptocurrency investors.A crypto glossary of commonly used terms will be helpful to gain a better understanding of the cryptocurrency space. Sometimes you will be in a cryptocurrency forum or watching a crypto video on Youtube and you’ll hear a variety of terms and lingo. You may be wondering, what the heck are they talking about? Here is my list of some of some commonly used terms, abbreviations, acronyms and figures of speech in the cryptocurrency space.

Cryptocurrency Terms and Definitions

  • ADDRESS — A code used to store, send or receive cryptocurrency.
  • ALTCOIN — Generally any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin (BTC).
  • ATH — All time high.
  • BAGHODLER — An investor who held on too long.
  • BEARISH — An expectation that prices will decrease.
  • BEARWHALE — A wealthy trader who is bearish on the price of a cryptocurrency.
  • BLOCKCHAIN — A digital ledger of transactions on a decentralized network.
  • BULLISH — An expectation that prices will increase.
  • COLD STORAGE — Moving cryptocurrency offline as a means of safekeeping.
  • CRYPTOCURRENCY — Digital assets including Bitcoin and altcoins.
  • DESKTOP WALLET — A cryptocurrency storage wallet that resides on your computer.
  • DYOR — Do your own research.
  • EXCHANGE — Websites where you can buy and sell cryptocurrencies.
  • FIAT — Government issued currencies.
  • FLIP — To buy and sell, usually for a quick profit
  • FOMO — Fear of missing out.
  • FORK — When a blockchain splits into two separate chains.
  • FUD — Fear, uncertainty and doubt.
  • HARDWARE WALLET — A USB device that stores cryptocurrency.
  • HODL — Originally a misspelling of “hold” commonly used in forums; it also means Hold on for dear life.
  • HOT WALLET — A wallet on a cryptocurrency exchange that is online all the time.
  • ICO — Initial Coin Offering (similar to IPOs in the stock market)
  • MARKET CAP — The total value in a cryptocurrency. (total coin supply x current market price per unit)
  • MINING — Discovering and solving blocks along the blockchain. Results in mining rewards.
  • MOONING — Refers to prices going up “to the moon”.
  • PRIVATE KEY — Cryptography that allows a cryptocurrency owner to access their funds.
  • PUMP AND DUMP — Inflating the value of an asset for a fast price increase and the resulting sudden crash
  • REKT — Misspelling of “wrecked” referring to a trader who is devastated as a result of their holdings.
  • R.O.I. — Return on investment.
  • SCAMCOIN — Designed to defraud investors.
  • SHORTING — Selling a cryptocurrency, hoping it can be purchased back at at a later date, for a lower price, resulting in a net gain.
  • TO THE MOON — Refers to the upward trend of climbing cryptocurrency prices.
  • TOKENS — The currency of projects built on an existing cryptocurrency network.
  • VOLATILITY — The price movements up and down for a cryptocurrency.
  • WALLET — A digital or physical location where cryptocurrency can be stored, sent or received.
  • WHALE — An investor with a lot of money to spend in the cryptocurrency marketplace.
  • WHITE PAPER — A detailed documentation of a cryptocurrency’s digital protocol.

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