A computer program that utilizes a blockchain for data storage, runs autonomously, is not controlled or operated from a single entitiy, is open source and has its use incentivized by the reward of fees or tokens.

Something every cryptocurrency coin has that's unique and identifies where it sits on the blockchain. It's where the coin's ownership data is stored and where any changes are registered when it is traded.

Bitcoin was the first and is the most successful of all the cryptocurrencies. All the other coins are grouped together under this category.

The blockchain is made up of these and each one holds a historical database of all cryptocurrency transactions made until it's full. It's a permanent record, like a bag of data that can be opened and viewed at any time.

A digital ledger of all the transactions ever made in a particular cryptocurrency and is repeatedly copied and saved onto thousands of computers all around the world, and it must always match each copy. As there is no master copy stored in one location, it's considered decentralized.

The very first cryptocurrency. It was created in 2008 by an individual or group of individuals operating under the name Satoshi Nakamoto. It was intended to be a peer-to-peer, decentralized electronic cash system.

A form of money that exists as encrypted, digital information. Operating independently of any banks and uses sophisticated mathematics to regulate the creation and transfer of funds between entities.

The process of encrypting and decrypting information.

When a transaction has been confirmed, it means it has been approved by the network and permanently appended to the blockchain.