Blockchain
A shared data structure maintained by a network under defined validation rules.
Plain-language definitions
Digital finance glossary
Clear definitions for common crypto, blockchain, market, and fintech terms.
Bridge
A system that transfers or represents assets and messages between networks.
Cold wallet
Key storage designed to remain offline or isolated from internet-connected devices.
Consensus
The process a distributed network uses to agree on valid state transitions.
Custody
The control and safeguarding of assets or the keys that authorize their movement.
DeFi
Financial applications built with smart contracts and blockchain-based assets.
Gas
A unit used to price computation or transaction processing on some blockchains.
Liquidity
The ability to transact without causing a large price movement.
Market capitalization
Current unit price multiplied by a stated supply measure.
Oracle
A mechanism that supplies external data to smart contracts.
Private key
Secret information used to authorize cryptographic signatures.
Rollup
A scaling system that batches activity and posts data or proofs to a base chain.
Seed phrase
A human-readable backup used to derive wallet keys.
Slippage
The difference between an expected transaction price and the executed result.
Smart contract
Code deployed to a blockchain that executes according to predefined rules.
Stablecoin
A token designed to track the value of another asset, often a national currency.
Tokenization
Representing rights or claims using digital tokens.
Wallet
Software or hardware used to manage keys and interact with blockchain networks.