An NFT is a unique digital token stored on a blockchain that proves ownership of a specific digital item — art, music, video, game items, or anything else. Unlike currencies, each NFT is distinct and cannot be directly exchanged 1:1 for another. The NFT boom of 2021 saw billions traded, before a sharp market correction.
DeFi refers to a suite of financial services — lending, borrowing, trading, yield generation — built on public blockchains, primarily Ethereum. It aims to replicate and disintermediate traditional finance without banks or intermediaries. At its peak in 2021, over $180 billion was locked in DeFi protocols.
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a stable value, typically pegged to the US dollar. They exist in three main types: fiat-backed (USDT, USDC), crypto-backed (DAI), and algorithmic — the latter having a catastrophic track record including the $40B Terra collapse.
The Bitcoin halving is a programmatic event that occurs every 210,000 blocks (approximately every 4 years) and reduces the block reward paid to miners by 50%. It is hardcoded into Bitcoin's protocol and is a key driver of its deflationary supply model.
Satoshi Nakamoto is the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin and the author of the Bitcoin whitepaper. Their true identity remains one of the greatest mysteries in technology. Satoshi mined approximately 1 million Bitcoin in the early days before disappearing from public life in 2010.
Web3 is a vision of a decentralised internet built on blockchain technology, where users own their data and digital assets rather than surrendering them to tech giants. It encompasses cryptocurrencies, NFTs, DAOs, and decentralised applications.
A Crypto Winter refers to an extended bear market in the cryptocurrency space — characterised by sustained price declines of 70–90% from peak values, collapsed trading volumes, project failures, and industry layoffs. Major crypto winters occurred in 2014, 2018, and 2022.
A Decentralised Autonomous Organisation (DAO) is an organisation governed by code rather than traditional management hierarchies. Members hold governance tokens and vote on proposals — from treasury spending to protocol changes. DAOs manage billions in assets across DeFi, investment, and protocol governance.
Cryptocurrency regulation encompasses the growing body of laws, rules, and enforcement actions governing digital assets. Approaches vary enormously — El Salvador made Bitcoin legal tender while China banned all crypto. The EU passed comprehensive MiCA legislation in 2023.