The crypto glossary A–Z
The words from the charts, the wallet pop-ups and the group chat. Get the meaning, see an example and follow the source.
Transaction simulation
A preview of transaction execution against a chosen blockchain state before the transaction is settled.
Trusted setup
A procedure that generates public cryptographic parameters under assumptions about how secret setup material is handled.
TVL
Total value locked: an estimate of the monetary value of assets deposited in a protocol or category.
Typed-data signing
Signing structured Ethereum messages using a format such as EIP-712.
Unlimited approval
A token-spending permission set to a very large allowance rather than the amount needed for one action.
UserOperation
An ERC-4337 data structure describing an operation requested by a smart account.
Utilization rate
The proportion of a lending pool’s supplied liquidity that is currently borrowed.
UTXO
An unspent Bitcoin transaction output that a future transaction can consume.
Validator
A participant that performs consensus duties such as checking, proposing or voting on blocks.
Validity proof
A cryptographic proof that a claimed computation or state transition follows specified rules.
Validium
A scaling design that uses validity proofs while keeping transaction data outside the settlement chain.
Versioned transaction
A Solana transaction message marked with a format version so clients can interpret its structure correctly.
Volatility
The extent to which an asset's price or returns vary over a specified period.
WAGMI
We're all gonna make it: a crypto community cheer for shared optimism and sticking together.
Wallet
Software or hardware that manages blockchain accounts and helps authorize transactions.
Watch-only wallet
A wallet that monitors addresses or public derivation data without holding their spending keys.
Web3
A broad label for internet applications using blockchains for functions such as ownership, payments or coordination.
Wei
The smallest whole unit of ether: one ETH equals 10¹⁸ wei.
WETH
Wrapped ether: an ERC-20 token representation of ETH created by a wrapping contract.
Wrapped token
A token that represents another asset through a wrapping or bridging arrangement.
Yield farming
Using crypto positions or protocols to seek returns from interest, fees or incentives.
Zero-knowledge proof
A cryptographic way to demonstrate a claim without revealing the secret information used to establish it.
Zero-knowledge rollup
A rollup that uses cryptographic validity proofs to demonstrate correct execution of transaction batches.
ZK-SNARK
A succinct, non-interactive argument of knowledge that can demonstrate a claim with a compact zero-knowledge proof.
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Concept entries explain ideas. Our separate asset registry identifies coins, tokens and networks by source metadata. Sources & standards