Reference pages that explain how crypto works. Each page is written from checked sources and reviewed on a schedule.
This official glossary explains common crypto and Ethereum-specific terms for new learners with no prior blockchain experience. It covers core concepts including blockchain, nodes, Ether (ETH), the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and smart contracts, using plain language to make foundational blockchain technology accessible for anyone exploring the crypto space. All definitions are sourced directly from official Ethereum documentation.
Ethereum wallets are applications that let you interact with your Ethereum account, and they fall into two main categories: custodial and self-custody. With self-custody wallets, you hold the private keys that grant control over your Ethereum account, and wallet providers do not have custody of your funds. Custodial wallets are linked to a centralized exchange, where you use a recoverable username and password, and you trust the exchange with custody of your funds.
Bitcoin is a decentralized digital payment network that uses cryptography to secure transactions. Users send and receive value through wallets, transactions are recorded on a shared public ledger called the blockchain, and mining confirms pending transactions by following strict cryptographic rules.
A crypto wallet is an application that gives you control over your account and lets you manage your digital assets. It shows your balance, transaction history and lets you send and receive funds. Wallets don't hold your funds, they're a window to view and interact with your assets on the blockchain.
On-chain data is information stored on the blockchain itself, secured by cryptographic mechanisms and agreed upon by network nodes. Off-chain data exists outside the blockchain. Smart contracts cannot access off-chain data by default, so oracles are applications that bridge this gap by bringing external information onto the blockchain for contracts to use.
Cryptocurrency is digital money that runs on decentralized networks instead of banks or governments. Bitcoin lets you send and receive digital cash. Ethereum builds on this with smart contracts, programs that run automatically and let people create digital assets and applications accessible to anyone with an internet connection.
Ethereum is an open, public blockchain launched in July 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and a small team of co-founders. It builds on basic blockchain technology with open-source smart contracts, enabling users to create decentralized applications (dapps) and digital assets that run 24/7 globally without central oversight. Its native cryptocurrency is ether (ETH), which powers network operations and secures the system.
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