Crypto Crash Course

Proof of stake is a method of validating cryptocurrency transactions.

Cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana, are digital assets that run on decentralized peer-to-peer networks called blockchains.

Bitcoin is the first and largest cryptocurrency network.

Blockchains are distributed computer networks that support cryptocurrencies.

If Bitcoin’s white paper is the foundational text for crypto, Web3 is the broader philosophy that has emerged from it.

You’ve heard the horror stories and many of them are true.

Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency network by market capitalization after Bitcoin.

DeFi refers to a suite of decentralized financial applications built on blockchains.

NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are one-of-a-kind digital assets.

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.

DEX is short for decentralized exchange, a cryptocurrency trading platform not maintained by a centralized company.

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.

The nuts and bolts of cryptocurrency investments are similar to those of other asset classes, like stocks or gold.

Bitcoin isn’t the only blockchain—there are thousands—and they aren’t compatible. Enter bridges.

Staking refers to the locking up of cryptocurrency in order to help secure a network and earn rewards.

While cryptocurrencies are notorious for their volatility, a cluster of them called stablecoins promises an escape from the chaos.

Solana is a popular blockchain that supports decentralized applications and tokens.

Smart contracts bring blockchains to life by letting users create and run on-chain programs.

Oracles are programs that feed smart contracts with real-world data.

Blockchains are composed of layers, a metaphor that helps explain how blockchains can take a load off each other.

While stockbrokers trade on stock exchanges, cryptocurrency traders primarily buy and sell tokens on cryptocurrency exchanges.

Cryptocurrency wallets safeguard digital assets like Bitcoin, Ether, or NFTs.

The most popular NFT project is called Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC).

Avalanche is a newer blockchain network that competes with the likes of Ethereum and Solana.

Cardano is the name of the blockchain that houses ADA, a long-time, top-10 cryptocurrency by market capitalization.

Cryptocurrencies are governed by a set of rules called "tokenomics," which refers to the monetary policies baked into each token or coin.

USD Coin, also known as USDC, is a cryptocurrency pegged to the U.S. dollar.

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.