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Glossary of Terms

A clear, concise reference guide to crypto and financial terms

Understanding digital assets and modern wealth strategies requires familiarity with a range of specialized terms. The Crestwyn Glossary is designed to give investors, RIAs, and family offices straightforward definitions and context for the concepts shaping today’s financial landscape.

Use this page to learn, refresh, or share key terminology with your team or clients.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Airdrop
Free token distribution to promote adoption or reward users.
Altcoin
Any crypto asset other than Bitcoin.
Asset Allocation
Investment strategy for balancing risk and reward by apportioning assets.
Accredited Investor
Entity meeting wealth or income thresholds to invest in certain securities.
AML (Anti-Money Laundering)
Laws and regulations designed to prevent money laundering and illegal financing activities.

B

Bitcoin (BTC)
The original and most valuable cryptocurrency by market cap.
Bitcoin ETF
An exchange-traded fund that tracks the price of Bitcoin, allowing traditional investors exposure.
Blockchain
Decentralized, transparent ledger of digital transactions.
Basis Points (bps)
Unit equal to 0.01%, used for interest rate or fee measurements.

C

Custody
Safekeeping of crypto or financial assets on behalf of a client.
Cold Wallet
Offline storage for cryptocurrency to enhance security.
Cold Storage
Method of holding cryptocurrency offline to protect from hacks.
Compliance
Adhering to laws, regulations, and industry standards applicable to financial services.

D

DeFi (Decentralized Finance)
Financial services using smart contracts on public blockchains.
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT)
A decentralized database managed by multiple participants.

E

Ethereum (ETH)
A decentralized blockchain platform known for smart contract functionality.
ERC-20 Token
A technical standard used for smart contracts on Ethereum to implement tokens.

F

Fiat Currency
Government-issued currency not backed by a physical commodity.
Fiduciary
Person or entity legally obligated to act in a client's best interest.
Futures Contract
A financial contract obligating the buyer to purchase an asset at a predetermined future date and price.

G

Gas Fees
Fees paid to perform a transaction or execute a contract on Ethereum.
Gas Limit
Maximum amount of gas a user is willing to spend on a transaction.

H

Halving
Event in Bitcoin protocol that halves the reward miners receive, affecting supply.

I

Institutional Investor
Large organizations that invest substantial amounts of capital.

J

JSON-RPC
Protocol for remote procedure calls used by Ethereum nodes.

K

KYC (Know Your Customer)
Regulatory requirement to verify the identity of clients.

L

Liquidity
How easily an asset can be converted to cash without affecting its price.

M

Market Capitalization
Total market value of a cryptocurrency or asset.

N

NFT (Non-Fungible Token)
Unique digital asset representing ownership of content or art.
Node
A computer that participates in a blockchain network.

O

Off-Chain Transactions
Transactions that occur outside the blockchain to improve scalability.

P

Private Key
Secret cryptographic key granting control over cryptocurrency.

Q

Quantitative Easing
Monetary policy used by central banks to stimulate the economy.

R

Rebalancing
Adjusting asset allocation in a portfolio to maintain target risk levels.

S

Smart Contract
Self-executing contracts with terms directly written into code.
Stablecoin
Cryptocurrency pegged to a stable asset like the USD to reduce volatility.

T

Tokenization
Process of converting rights to an asset into a digital token.
Tokenomics
Economics and incentives behind a crypto token's design.

U

Utility Token
Token that provides access to a product or service.

V

Validator
Participant that verifies transactions on a proof-of-stake blockchain.
Volatility
Degree of variation in asset price over time.

W

Wallet
Digital tool used to store and manage cryptocurrencies.
Whitepaper
Document describing a cryptocurrency project’s technology and purpose.

X

Y

Yield Farming
Practice of staking crypto assets to earn returns.

Z

Zero-Knowledge Proof
Cryptographic method to prove knowledge of data without revealing it.

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Disclosure: Investment advisory and management services are offered through Crestwyn Consulting Group, a state-registered investment adviser. All content on this website is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment, legal, or tax advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Crestwyn does not guarantee future outcomes.

Investments in traditional and digital assets involve significant risk, including the potential loss of principal. Digital assets in particular are subject to heightened volatility, regulatory uncertainty, cybersecurity risks, and potential loss due to theft or technological failure. Custody of digital assets may be handled by third-party providers, which may or may not meet the definition of a “qualified custodian” under SEC guidelines.

Crestwyn and its affiliates may hold positions in digital assets or investment strategies mentioned. This website and its contents do not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities or investment advisory services in any jurisdiction where such offer would be unlawful. Crestwyn’s services are offered only in jurisdictions where legally permitted.

Investments offered are not insured by the FDIC or any other government agency, are not bank-guaranteed, and may lose value. We encourage all investors to consult with their tax, legal, and financial advisors before acting on any information provided.

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