Glossary
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- address
A place where cryptocurrency can be sent to and from, in the form of a string of letters and numbers. A cryptocurrency address can be shared publicly in the form of text or QR code to those who want to send you cryptocurrency.
More Info - airdrop
A marketing campaign that distributes a specific cryptocurrency or token to an audience. It is usually initiated by the creator of a cryptocurrency in order to encourage use and build popularity of the coin or token. Most airdrop campaigns run with mechanics such as receiving coins or tokens in exchange for simple tasks like sharing news, referring friends, or downloading an app.
More Info - algorithm
A process or set of rules to be followed in problem-solving or calculation operations, usually by a computer, although humans tend to follow steps algorithmically as well (let's say doing math or following a recipe).
More Info - all-time-high
The highest point (in price, in market capitalization) that a cryptocurrency has been in history. see All-Time-Low (ATL).
More Info - all-time-low
The lowest point (in price, in market capitalization) that a cryptocurrency has been in history. see All-Time-High (ATH).
More Info - altcoin
As Bitcoin is the first cryptocurrency that captured the world's imagination, all other coins were subsequently termed 'altcoins', as in 'alternative coins'.
More Info - aml
See: 'Anti-Money Laundering'
More Info - anti-money laundering
A set of international laws enacted to curtail criminal organizations or individuals laundering money through cryptocurrencies into real-world cash.
More Info - api
API stands for Application Programming Interface. It is a set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software applications. APIs specify how software components should interact, such as what data to use and what actions should be taken.
More Info - arbitrage
A practice of taking advantage of differences in price of the same commodity in two or more markets or exchanges. For example, cryptocurrency prices on Korean exchanges can be different from those on US exchanges. An arbitrage trader would be in both markets in order to buy in one and sell in another for profit.
More Info - ashdraked
A situation where you lose all your money, more specifically when you lose all your money shorting Bitcoin. This was based on a story of a Romanian trader who continued to short BTC when it went from $300 to $500, since he had made a lot of profit doing so historically. Adapt your trading strategy!
More Info - asic
Short for 'Application Specific Integrated Circuit'; it is a mining equipment that is used specifically to mine a certain cryptocurrency. Often compared to GPUs, ASICs are specially created and bought for mining purposes and offer significant efficiency improvements and power savings due to its narrow use case.
More Info - astroturfing
A deceptive practice where a sponsor is masked or hidden, making it seem as though a marketing message came from and is strongly supported by the community when it is not.
More Info - asynchronous communication
Asynchronous communication is the exchange of messages, such as among the hosts on a network or devices in a computer, by reading and responding as schedules permit rather than according to some clock that is synchronized for both the sender and receiver or in real time.
More Info - atomic swap
A way of letting people directly exchange one type of cryptocurrency for another on a different blockchain or off-chain without a centralized intermediary such as an exchange.
More Info - attestation ledger
An attestation ledger is an account book designed to provide evidence of individual transactions. It is generally used to 'attest' that a financial transaction took place, or to prove authenticity of transactions or products.
More Info - automated market maker
An automated market maker (often referred to as AMM) is a method deployed by decentralized exchanges (DEX) comprised of smart contracts and are used to create liquidity pools that automatically trade on the decentralized exchange using an algorithm to determine the price the asset trades, rather than using an order book like a centralized exchange. An automated market maker on a decentralized exchange often relies entirely on a mathematical formula to price assets that are bought or sold. Instead of using an order book like a traditional exchange, assets are priced according to the pricing algorithm, effectively replacing the 'traditional' concept of an order-book with a system where assets can be automatically swapped against the liquidity pool's latest price.
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