Learn
Crypto, term by term.
Every word that trips people up, in plain English. No jargon explaining jargon — just clear definitions you can actually use.
40 terms
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2FA (Two-Factor Authentication)
A second check on top of your password — usually a code from an app on your phone. Even if someone steals your password, they still can’t get in without it.
A
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Altcoin
Any cryptocurrency that isn’t Bitcoin. The word is short for "alternative coin" and covers thousands of projects, from Ethereum to tiny new tokens.
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AML (Anti-Money Laundering)
The rules that stop criminals from hiding illegal money through crypto. They’re the reason regulated platforms ask who you are and where your funds come from.
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ATH (All-Time High)
The highest price a coin has ever reached. It’s a useful reference point, but it’s no promise the price will ever return there.
B
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Bear market
A long stretch where prices are falling and most people feel gloomy. The opposite of a bull market.
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Bitcoin
The first and best-known cryptocurrency, launched in 2009. It’s digital money that runs on a worldwide network with no bank or government in charge.
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Blockchain
The shared digital record that crypto runs on. Think of it as a public notebook, copied across thousands of computers, where every transaction is written down and can’t be quietly changed.
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Bull market
A long stretch where prices are rising and people feel optimistic. The opposite of a bear market.
C
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Coin
A cryptocurrency that has its own blockchain, like Bitcoin or Ethereum. It’s the native money of that network (unlike a token, which is built on top of one).
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Cold storage
Keeping crypto completely offline, so hackers on the internet can’t reach it. It’s the safest way to hold coins you don’t plan to touch for a while.
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Custody / Custodian
Who actually safeguards your crypto. A custodian is a regulated company that holds the keys for you, so you don’t have to worry about losing them yourself.
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DCA (Dollar-Cost Averaging)
Buying a small, fixed amount on a regular schedule — say a little every week — instead of trying to guess the perfect moment. It smooths out the ups and downs over time.
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Decentralization
When no single company or person is in control — the system is run by many computers around the world. It makes a network harder to shut down or censor.
E
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Ethereum
The second-biggest cryptocurrency, and a platform that lets developers build apps and tokens on top of it. Its coin is called Ether (ETH).
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Exchange
A platform where you buy, sell, and trade crypto — a bit like an online currency bureau. CryptoUnity lets you do this straight from the app.
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Fiat
Ordinary government money like euros, dollars, or pounds. "Fiat" is just the word crypto people use to tell it apart from cryptocurrency.
G
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Gas fee
The small charge you pay to make a transaction go through on a blockchain. It rises when the network is busy and falls when it’s quiet.
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Halving
A scheduled event where the reward for mining new Bitcoin is cut in half, roughly every four years. It slows down how fast new coins are created.
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HODL
Crypto slang for holding onto your coins through the ups and downs instead of selling in a panic. It started as a typo of "hold" and stuck.
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Hot wallet
A wallet that stays connected to the internet, so it’s handy for everyday buying and spending — but a little more exposed than cold storage.
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KYC (Know Your Customer)
The quick identity check you do when signing up — usually a photo of your ID and your face. It’s a legal requirement that keeps regulated platforms safe and above board.
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Ledger
A record of who owns what. On a blockchain the ledger is public and shared, so everyone can agree on the balances without trusting a middleman. (Ledger is also a popular brand of hardware wallet.)
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Liquidity
How easily you can buy or sell something without moving its price. High liquidity means there are plenty of buyers and sellers, so your order fills quickly and fairly.
M
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Market cap
The total value of all of a coin’s units added together — its price multiplied by how many exist. A bigger market cap usually means a more established coin.
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Mining
The process some networks use to confirm transactions and create new coins, done by computers solving hard puzzles. Bitcoin works this way.
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NFT (Non-Fungible Token)
A one-of-a-kind digital item recorded on a blockchain, like a piece of art or a collectible. Unlike a coin, each NFT is unique and can’t be swapped one-for-one.
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Private key
The secret code that proves you own your crypto and lets you move it. Anyone who has it controls your funds, so it must never be shared.
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Public address
Your wallet’s shareable "account number" — the string of characters people send crypto to. It’s safe to give out, unlike your private key.
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Seed phrase
A list of 12 to 24 simple words that can restore your entire wallet if your device is lost. Write it down, keep it offline, and never type it into a website.
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SEPA
The standard way to move euros between bank accounts across Europe. On CryptoUnity it’s how you deposit and withdraw cash, usually within a day.
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Smart contract
A small program that lives on a blockchain and runs automatically when its conditions are met — like a vending machine for digital agreements, with no middleman needed.
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Spread
The small gap between the price to buy and the price to sell at any moment. A tighter spread means you’re getting a fairer deal.
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Stablecoin
A cryptocurrency designed to hold a steady value, usually pegged to a currency like the dollar or euro. People use it to park funds without the wild price swings.
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Staking
Locking up some of your crypto to help run a network, and earning rewards for doing so — a bit like interest on a savings account. It only works on certain coins.
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Token
A cryptocurrency built on top of an existing blockchain rather than having its own. Many tokens live on Ethereum, for example.
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Volatility
How much and how fast a price swings up and down. High volatility means bigger possible gains — and bigger possible losses.
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Volume
How much of a coin has been bought and sold over a period, usually the last 24 hours. High volume signals lots of activity and interest.
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Wallet
Where your crypto lives. Rather than holding coins like a purse holds cash, a wallet stores the keys that let you access and move your funds.
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Whale
Someone who holds a very large amount of a coin — enough that their buying or selling can nudge the whole market.
Y
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Yield
The return you earn on crypto you put to work, for example through staking. It’s usually shown as a yearly percentage, like interest.
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