Crypto Crash Course
Learn all of the most important blockchain and cryptocurrency terms and jargon here.
INTERMEDIATE
Proof of stake
Proof of stake is a method of validating cryptocurrency transactions.
INTERMEDIATE
Web3
If Bitcoin’s white paper is the foundational text for crypto, Web3 is the broader philosophy that has emerged from it.
INTERMEDIATE
NFTs
NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are one-of-a-kind digital assets.
BEGINNER
Memecoins
Cryptocurrencies are often tied to ambitious blockchain projects that try to aspire to remake the world’s financial and computer systems. But there’s an entire class of cryptocurrencies that derive their value primarily from Internet jokes or popular culture: memecoins.
ADVANCED
Bridges
Bitcoin isn’t the only blockchain—there are thousands—and they aren’t compatible. Enter bridges.
INTERMEDIATE
Solana
Solana is a popular blockchain that supports decentralized applications and tokens.
ADVANCED
Layer 1 vs. Layer 2
Blockchains are composed of layers, a metaphor that helps explain how blockchains can take a load off each other.
ADVANCED
Bored Ape Yacht Club
The most popular NFT project is called Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC).
INTERMEDIATE
Tokenomics
Cryptocurrencies are governed by a set of rules called "tokenomics," which refers to the monetary policies baked into each token or coin.
BEGINNER
Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana, are digital assets that run on decentralized peer-to-peer networks called blockchains.
BEGINNER
Staying safe in crypto—avoiding scams
You’ve heard the horror stories and many of them are true.
INTERMEDIATE
DeFi
DeFi refers to a suite of decentralized financial applications built on blockchains.
ADVANCED
DEXes
DEX is short for decentralized exchange, a cryptocurrency trading platform not maintained by a centralized company.
BEGINNER
Crypto investing 101
The nuts and bolts of cryptocurrency investments are similar to those of other asset classes, like stocks or gold.
INTERMEDIATE
Staking
Staking refers to the locking up of cryptocurrency in order to help secure a network and earn rewards.
INTERMEDIATE
Smart contracts
Smart contracts bring blockchains to life by letting users create and run on-chain programs.
BEGINNER
Crypto wallets
Cryptocurrency wallets safeguard digital assets like Bitcoin, Ether, or NFTs.
INTERMEDIATE
Avalanche
Avalanche is a newer blockchain network that competes with the likes of Ethereum and Solana.
INTERMEDIATE
USDC
USD Coin, also known as USDC, is a cryptocurrency pegged to the U.S. dollar.
BEGINNER
Bitcoin
Bitcoin is the first and largest cryptocurrency network.
BEGINNER
Blockchains
Blockchains are distributed computer networks that support cryptocurrencies.
INTERMEDIATE
Ethereum
Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency network by market capitalization after Bitcoin.
INTERMEDIATE
Metaverse
While the term “metaverse” once described an obscure fictional dystopia, today it refers to an all-encompassing virtual world in which users play, work, and socialize.
INTERMEDIATE
Crypto mining
Proof-of-work—aka cryptocurrency mining—has been around since the 1990s, but Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, popularized the concept in Bitcoin’s 2008 whitepaper as a process for securing blockchains.
INTERMEDIATE
Stablecoins
While cryptocurrencies are notorious for their volatility, a cluster of them called stablecoins promises an escape from the chaos.
ADVANCED
Oracles
Oracles are programs that feed smart contracts with real-world data.
BEGINNER
Exchanges
While stockbrokers trade on stock exchanges, cryptocurrency traders primarily buy and sell tokens on cryptocurrency exchanges.
INTERMEDIATE
Cardano
Cardano is the name of the blockchain that houses ADA, a long-time, top-10 cryptocurrency by market capitalization.
INTERMEDIATE
XRP
XRP is a top-10 cryptocurrency that runs on the XRP Ledger, a blockchain network launched in 2012 by U.S.-incorporated payments company Ripple.