Glossary · 5 terms
Cryptocurrency
All cryptocurrency terms in the EquitiesAmerica.com glossary — plain-English definitions for American investors.
Bitcoin(BTC)
Bitcoin (BTC) is the first and largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, a decentralized digital currency that operates on a peer-to-peer network without a central bank or single administrator.
Blockchain(distributed ledger)
A blockchain is a distributed, immutable digital ledger that records transactions in chronologically ordered blocks, each cryptographically linked to the previous one, creating a tamper-resistant record shared across a decentralized network of computers.
Cryptocurrency Exchange(crypto exchange)
A cryptocurrency exchange is a platform that facilitates the buying, selling, and trading of cryptocurrencies, functioning similarly to a traditional stock exchange but operating with varying levels of regulatory oversight depending on jurisdiction.
Ethereum(ETH)
Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that supports smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps), with Ether (ETH) serving as its native cryptocurrency.
Stablecoin(USD stablecoin)
A stablecoin is a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value, typically pegged to a fiat currency such as the U.S. dollar, by holding reserves or through algorithmic mechanisms to prevent the extreme price volatility characteristic of other cryptocurrencies.