ZK-rollup
A Layer 2 scaling solution that uses zero-knowledge proofs to validate transactions cryptographically rather than relying on fraud-proof challenge periods. Major ZK rollups: zkSync,…
Glossary
Glossary — crypto terms, defined
80 articles · refreshed Jun 10, 2026
Yield farming
Moving capital between DeFi protocols to maximize returns. Yield farmers chase the highest-APR opportunities, often layering: deposit collateral, borrow against it, deposit the borrowed…
Whale
A wallet holding a very large position in a particular asset. Definitions vary — typically a top 1% holder, or any wallet holding $1M+…
Web3
A loose term for blockchain-based internet infrastructure — decentralized applications, token-based ownership, on-chain identity. The term has been overloaded to the point of near-meaninglessness…
Wallet
Software (or hardware) that stores private keys and lets users interact with blockchains. Wallets do not actually "store" cryptocurrency — the cryptocurrency is on…
Volatility
The degree of price variation over time. Crypto is more volatile than equities, FX, and most commodities. Bitcoin's annualised volatility is roughly 50–70% in…
Token
A unit of cryptocurrency, often used interchangeably with "coin" but technically distinct. "Coin" usually refers to a chain's native asset (BTC, ETH, SOL); "token"…
TVL
Total Value Locked — the aggregate value of assets deposited in a smart contract or protocol. Common DeFi metric. As of 2026, total DeFi…
Testnet
A public test network for a blockchain, with worthless test tokens. Developers deploy and test smart contracts on testnet before mainnet. Major Ethereum testnets:…
Staking
Locking cryptocurrency to participate in a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism and earn rewards. ETH staking yields roughly 2.9% in 2026; SOL staking ~6.5%. Stakers can…