SheCrypto Ultimate Blockchain Glossary
No hype. No jargon. Just the words you actually need. From A-Z.
Crypto can feel like you’ve walked into a party where everyone is speaking in code. One person’s shouting about “HODL!,” another’s bragging about their “bags,” and someone in the corner is whispering about “FUD” and “DAO governance.”
Meanwhile, you’re just trying to figure out if you need a secret decoder ring to keep up.
That’s why I made the SheCrypto Ultimate Blockchain Glossary. No hype, no walls of jargon, no “you should already know this.” Just straight talk that makes sense … whether you’re a curious beginner, a builder, or a woman staking your claim in Web3.
Inside, you’ll find the terms people throw around in crypto ~ from the classics like bull markets and blockchain to the slang, memes, and finance phrases that crash-landed into the conversation. We’ll tell you what they mean, why they matter, and how to actually use them in real life.
Because here’s the truth: crypto isn’t just about coins and charts. It’s about confidence. The more you understand the language, the more you can step into the space with clarity and power. And that’s why I started SheCrypto … to cut the noise, break it down, and hand you the mic.
So grab your coffee (or your cold wallet), flip through these digital pages, and get ready to walk into any crypto convo knowing you belong there. Because you do!
SheCrypto Ultimate Blockchain Glossary
No hype. No jargon. Just the words you actually need. From A-Z.
Airdrop
Free crypto. Projects sometimes drop tokens into your wallet as a way to reward early supporters or build hype.
Altcoin
Anything that’s not Bitcoin. Could be serious tech … or hot garbage. DYOR (do your own research).
ATH (All-Time High)
When a coin hits its highest price ever. Usually followed by FOMO tweets and champagne emojis.
Bags
The crypto you’re holding. Sometimes it’s a flex (“I’ve got big bags of Bitcoin”), sometimes it’s regret (“still holding those altcoin bags from 2021”).
Bear Market
When prices keep sliding and the mood is gloom. Think winter coats and survival mode.
Bitcoin (BTC)
The OG. Digital gold. A money system outside banks and governments, capped at 21 million coins.
Blockchain
A public, uneditable ledger of transactions. Like a permanent group chat with receipts no one can delete.
Bull Market
When prices keep climbing and optimism rules. Think sunshine, rocket emojis, and everyone suddenly becoming a “crypto expert.”
Cold Wallet
Any crypto wallet that’s offline. Safer from hackers, but you’ve got to protect the device.
Crypto
Short for cryptocurrency. Any digital money running on blockchain.
CT (Crypto Twitter)
Short for Crypto Twitter. This is the corner of Twitter (now X) where crypto people - traders, builders, memecoin degens, and thought leaders - hang out, post charts, drop alpha, argue about regulation, and launch memes that can move markets. Think of CT as the town square of crypto. Sometimes it’s pure chaos, sometimes it’s brilliant insight, but it’s always where narratives are born. If something’s trending in crypto, chances are it started on CT.
Custodial vs. Non-Custodial
Custodial: someone else holds your keys (like Coinbase).
Non-custodial: you hold your own keys. True sovereignty, but also full responsibility.
DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization)
A blockchain-based community where rules are written in code and members vote on decisions. No CEO, no middlemen.
DAO Governance
How DAOs make decisions. Token-holders vote on proposals - from funding to partnerships to memes.
DCA (Dollar-Cost Averaging)
Investing small amounts on a schedule (weekly, monthly, etc.), no matter the price. Keeps emotions out of the game.
Decentralization
No single person or company runs the show. Power is spread across the network.
DeFi (Decentralized Finance)
The bankless economy. Lend, borrow, earn interest, and trade - all through code, not institutions.
Diamond Hands
Holding strong through market crashes and FUD. Commitment, no matter how rough it gets.
DYOR (Do Your Own Research)
The golden rule of crypto. Don’t just trust a tweet, TikTok, or hot tip. Read, question, and actually understand before you invest. DYOR = protection from hype and scams.
Ethereum (ETH)
The #2 blockchain. Known for smart contracts, DeFi, and NFTs. If Bitcoin is digital gold, Ethereum is programmable money.
Fiat
Government-issued money like dollars, euros, yen. Crypto’s counterpart.
FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
That panic urge to buy because prices are mooning. Usually ends in regret if you buy the top.
FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt)
Negativity, rumors, or scary headlines meant to shake confidence and push prices down. Sometimes legit, sometimes just noise.
Gas Fees
The transaction cost for using certain blockchains (like Ethereum). Sometimes cheap, sometimes painful.
GM / GN
“Good morning” and “good night.” Common greetings in crypto and Web3 communities worldwide. GM is a vibe.
Halving
An event every four years where Bitcoin mining rewards get cut in half. Reduces new supply, often sparks hype.
Hard Wallet (Hardware Wallet)
A type of cold wallet. Think of it like a USB device that stores your private keys offline. One of the safest ways to HODL.
HODL
The rallying cry: “hold on for dear life.” Originally a typo. Now it means don’t sell during dips.
Hot Wallet
A wallet connected to the internet (like an app or browser extension). Convenient for trading, but more vulnerable to hacks.
ICO (Initial Coin Offering)
The crypto version of a startup raising money by selling tokens. Exciting in 2017, but also scam central.
Liquidity
How easily you can buy or sell a coin without moving the price too much. High liquidity = smooth trades.
Market Cap
The value of a crypto = price × number of coins. A snapshot of its size in the ecosystem.
Mining
The process of securing Bitcoin by solving puzzles and earning rewards. Think digital gold rush.
MPC (Multi-Party Computation)
A newer way to secure wallets without one single private key. Your key is split into pieces and distributed - so no hacker (or insider) can grab it all in one place.
Moon / To the Moon
When a coin’s price skyrockets. “BTC is going to the moon” = people believe it’s headed way up.
NFA (Not Financial Advice)
The classic crypto disclaimer. A way of saying “don’t sue me if this goes sideways.” Just an opinion, not actual advice.
NFT (Non-Fungible Token)
A unique digital asset - art, music, in-game items. Ownership is provable on the blockchain.
NGMI (Not Gonna Make It)
The opposite of WAGMI. Said when someone panic sells, buys scams, or ignores DYOR.
Paper Hands
Selling too quickly at the first sign of fear. The opposite of diamond hands.
Private Key
Your master password. The code that proves you own your crypto. Lose it = lose your money.
Public Address
Your crypto “mailing address.” Share it to receive funds, but never confuse it with your private key.
Pump and Dump
When a group hypes up a coin, drives up the price, then sells at the peak - leaving latecomers wrecked.
Rekt (Wrecked)
Losing big in the market. Usually after leverage gone wrong, chasing pumps, or buying the top.
Rug Pull
When a project disappears with investors’ money. One of the worst scams in crypto.
Sats (Satoshis)
The smallest unit of Bitcoin, named after its creator Satoshi Nakamoto. One Bitcoin = 100 million sats. Think of it like cents to a dollar - except way scarcer. People say “stacking sats” when they’re slowly accumulating Bitcoin.
Shorting
Betting the price will fall. You borrow a coin, sell it, then buy it back later (hopefully cheaper).
Shill
Aggressively promoting a coin, project, or NFT - often because you hold bags of it. Sometimes community love, sometimes spammy.
Smart Contract
Self-executing code. “If X happens, then Y.” Removes the need for middlemen.
Solana (SOL)
A fast blockchain known for low fees and speed. Popular for NFTs and DeFi, sometimes called the “Ethereum killer” (though ETH is still king).
Stable Token
Any crypto designed to hold a stable value, usually pegged to fiat.
Stablecoin (like USDC, USDT, DAI)
Digital dollars. Pegged to real-world currencies, used for payments and stability in a volatile market. USDC = the most regulated, trusted dollar-backed stablecoin.
Token
A digital asset that lives on a blockchain. Could represent money, art, access, or even voting rights.
USDC (USD Coin)
A regulated stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar. Backed by real assets, often used for payments, DeFi, and safe storage.
Volatility
The dramatic ups and downs of crypto prices. Fun for traders, stressful for everyone else.
Wallet
Where you keep your crypto. Could be an app (hot wallet) or device (cold wallet).
Web3
The next evolution of the internet: built on blockchains, run by communities, not corporations. Users own their data, identities, and assets.
Whale
A person or entity holding huge amounts of crypto, capable of moving the market with one splashy trade.
WAGMI (We’re All Gonna Make It)
A rallying cry of optimism in crypto and Web3. Used when the community is hyped and believing in the long game.
XRP (Ripple)
A cryptocurrency focused on fast, low-cost cross-border payments. Loved by banks, controversial in crypto circles, and locked in a long legal battle with the SEC.
Finance Terms You’ll Hear in Crypto
(because Wall Street meets Web3)
Arbitrage – Buying on one exchange where it’s cheap and selling on another where it’s expensive. Profit from the gap.
Leverage – Borrowing money to trade bigger than your balance. High risk, high reward… and sometimes high regret.
Margin Call – When the market moves against you and the exchange demands more collateral. Fail to deliver and you’re liquidated.
Disclaimer: This content is for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be taken as financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research (aka DYOR) before making financial decisions.