Cryptocurrency Glossary
Explore key cryptocurrency, tax and investing terms and definitions
Bank run
A bank run occurs when a large number of customers withdraw their deposits from a bank at the same time due to fears the institution will become insolvent. This sudden demand for cash can cause or worsen the bank's financial problems.
Barbell Strategy
The barbell strategy balances low-risk and high-risk assets while avoiding the middle ground. In crypto, this means holding BTC & stablecoins for stability and altcoins & DeFi tokens for high returns.
Bear trap
A bear trap is a false market signal that suggests a price decline is starting, luring traders into short positions before the price reverses sharply upward. In crypto, bear traps often occur during volatile markets and can cause quick losses for short sellers.
BEP-20
BEP-20 is the token standard for Binance Smart Chain, defining how tokens work across wallets and dApps. It's similar to ERC-20 but faster and cheaper to use.
Binance
A top cryptocurrency exchange that lets users buy, sell, and trade hundreds of digital assets. Known for low fees, advanced tools, and features like staking, NFTs, and DeFi access via Binance Smart Chain, it's a hub for crypto beginners and professionals alike.
Bison Trails
Bison Trails was a blockchain infrastructure provider that helped institutions run nodes and staking services without technical complexity. Acquired by Coinbase in 2021, it is now part of Coinbase Cloud's blockchain infrastructure services.
Bitcoin
A decentralized digital currency that operates without a central authority, using blockchain technology to enable secure, transparent transactions.
Bitcoin ETF
A Bitcoin ETF lets you trade Bitcoin exposure on a stock exchange — no wallets, no private keys, just a ticker symbol and a brokerage account.
Bitcoin Halving
Bitcoin halving occurs every four years, cutting mining rewards by 50% to reduce BTC supply and increase scarcity. Historically, halvings have driven Bitcoin price surges, impacting miners and long-term investors.
Block in a blockchain
A block in a blockchain is a digital record that contains a batch of verified transactions, along with metadata such as a timestamp, cryptographic hash, and a reference to the previous block.
Block in Blockchain
A block in a blockchain is a digital container that records and stores data, such as transaction details, smart contract executions, or other information, in a secure and immutable way. Blocks are linked together in chronological order, forming the blockchain.
Block Reward
A block reward is the crypto payout miners or validators receive for confirming transactions and securing a blockchain. In Proof of Work, miners earn rewards through mining, while in Proof of Stake, validators receive rewards for staking coins.
Blockchain
A decentralized ledger technology that securely records transactions in an immutable chain of blocks.
Blockchain Explorer
A blockchain explorer is a tool for tracking transactions, wallet addresses, blocks, and smart contracts on a blockchain network. It provides transparency, security insights, and real-time data for crypto users.
Blockchain interoperability
Blockchain interoperability lets different networks communicate and share data. It's key to creating a seamless crypto ecosystem where assets and information move freely across chains.