Glossary
139 terms to sharpen your crypto trading knowledge
ERC-20
ERC-20 is the Ethereum token standard that defines a common interface for fungible tokens, enabling interoperability across wallets, exchanges, and dApps.
ERC-271
ERC-721 is the Ethereum standard for non-fungible tokens (NFTs), where each token is unique and represents distinct ownership of a digital or real-world asset.
Ethereum
Ethereum is a programmable blockchain platform that enables smart contracts and decentralized applications, with Ether (ETH) as its native currency.
Exchange
A cryptocurrency exchange is a platform where users buy, sell, and trade digital assets, matching buyers and sellers through order books or automated market makers.
Fiat
Fiat currency is government-issued money not backed by a physical commodity, deriving its value from regulation and public trust — the primary entry and exit point for crypto markets.
Forced Liquidation
Forced liquidation occurs when an exchange automatically closes a leveraged position because the trader's margin has fallen below the required minimum.
Fork
A fork occurs when a blockchain's protocol diverges, either creating two incompatible chains (hard fork) or implementing a backward-compatible upgrade (soft fork).
Fundamental Analysis (FA)
Fundamental analysis evaluates a cryptocurrency's intrinsic value by examining its technology, adoption, team, and market dynamics rather than its price history.
Futures Contract
Futures contracts let traders buy or sell a cryptocurrency at a set price on a future date, enabling speculation on price direction and hedging without holding the asset.
Gas
Gas is the unit that measures computational work on Ethereum, with users paying ETH-denominated gas fees to compensate validators for processing transactions and smart contracts.
Genesis Block
The genesis block is the very first block of a blockchain, serving as the hardcoded starting point from which all subsequent blocks descend.
HaasBot
HaasBot is HaasOnline's automated cryptocurrency trading bot that executes pre-programmed trading strategies across multiple exchanges, removing emotion from trading and operating around the clock.
Halving
A halving is a scheduled Bitcoin event that cuts the mining reward in half, slowing the creation of new coins and reinforcing Bitcoin's fixed supply cap of 21 million.
Hash
A hash is the output of a mathematical function that converts any input into a fixed-size string of characters, and it is fundamental to the security and immutability of blockchain networks.
Hash Rate
Hash rate refers to the speed at which a computer can complete calculations to validate blocks on a blockchain network. A higher hash rate increases a miner's chances of earning rewards.
HODL
HODL is a widely used crypto term meaning to hold your cryptocurrency long-term rather than selling during short-term price swings, embracing volatility in pursuit of long-term gains.
Hot Wallet
A hot wallet is a cryptocurrency wallet that remains connected to the internet, enabling quick access to funds for everyday transactions and active trading.
Iceberg Order
An iceberg order splits a large trade into smaller visible portions to hide the full order size from the market, helping traders execute large positions without causing significant price impact.
Index
A cryptocurrency index tracks the combined performance of a group of digital assets, giving traders and investors a broad view of overall market trends rather than focusing on a single coin.
Initial Coin Offering (ICO)
An ICO is a fundraising method where blockchain startups sell newly created tokens to investors in exchange for cryptocurrency, similar to an IPO but for the crypto world.
Initial Exchange Offering (IEO)
An IEO is a token fundraising event hosted directly on a cryptocurrency exchange, which vets the project and facilitates the sale, offering investors more oversight than traditional ICOs.
Isolated Margin
Isolated margin is a margin trading feature that limits your potential loss on a single position to the specific funds you allocate to it, protecting the rest of your account balance.
Know Your Customer (KYC)
KYC, or Know Your Customer, is the identity verification process that cryptocurrency exchanges use to confirm who their users are and comply with anti-money laundering regulations.
Latency
Latency is the delay between placing an order and its execution on an exchange, and minimizing it is critical for algorithmic traders who need to react quickly to market conditions.
Layer 2
Layer-2 refers to protocols built on top of existing blockchains to improve transaction speed and reduce costs by processing transactions off the main chain while leveraging its security.
Ledger
A blockchain ledger is a permanent, decentralized digital record of all transactions on a network, maintained across thousands of computers to ensure transparency and immutability.
Lightning Network
The Lightning Network is a layer-2 solution built on Bitcoin that enables instant, near-free transactions by routing payments through off-chain payment channels between users.
Liquidity
Liquidity describes how easily a cryptocurrency can be bought or sold without significantly moving its price, and it is a critical factor in determining how efficiently trades can be executed.
Mainnet
A mainnet is the live, production blockchain network of a cryptocurrency where real transactions occur and actual value is transferred, as opposed to a testnet used for development and testing.
Mainnet Swap
A mainnet swap is the process of migrating a crypto project from a temporary or hosted token to its own fully independent blockchain, requiring holders to exchange their old tokens for new native coins.