Crypto Jargon for Beginners (What All These Weird Words Mean)
So you’re scrolling through crypto Twitter, or maybe watching a YouTube video, and someone says:
“Yeah I aped into that alt, but the devs rugged. Total FOMO play. Should’ve just held my bags through the dip. Szn’s wild.”
And you’re like… “What language is this?”
Welcome to crypto-speak — a glorious mess of slang, acronyms, memes, and words that kinda make sense but also kind of don’t.
But don’t worry. We’re about to decode this wild dictionary together. No pressure, no judgment. Just clear, human definitions for all the weird terms you’ll run into when you step into crypto land.
1. HODL
Yeah, it looks like a typo. And it was — originally. Someone misspelled “hold” on a forum years ago, and the internet made it legendary.
HODL = hold on for dear life.
It basically means: “Don’t sell, even when things look bad.”
Used mostly by people who buy a coin and refuse to let go, no matter what the price is doing.
2. FOMO
Fear Of Missing Out.
When you see a coin going up and think, “If I don’t buy now, I’ll regret it forever.”
So you buy… right at the top.
Yeah. Classic.
3. FUD
Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt.
When people spread negative news (real or fake) to make others sell. Like:
“That project’s getting sued!”
“Their devs quit!”
“It’s all a scam!”
Sometimes it’s true. Sometimes it’s just noise. Either way, it causes panic.
4. Altcoin
Literally “alternative coin” — any crypto that isn’t Bitcoin.
So Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, Dogecoin, etc. — all altcoins.
Some are great. Others are… experiments. Or memes. Or scams. You’ll figure it out.
5. Whale
A person (or wallet) that holds a ton of crypto. Like millions of dollars worth.
When whales move, prices can shake. Everyone watches them, guesses their next move, and blames them when the market dips.
6. Gas Fees
The fee you pay to make transactions on certain blockchains (like Ethereum).
Sometimes it’s a few cents. Sometimes it’s more than the thing you’re trying to buy. Yes, it’s annoying. No, you can’t avoid it (unless you switch chains).
7. Wallet
Not leather. Not something you keep in your back pocket.
A crypto wallet is a tool (app, browser extension, or device) that lets you store and send crypto. You’ll hear terms like:
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Hot wallet (online, easy access)
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Cold wallet (offline, more secure)
Keep your seed phrase safe, and you’re good.
8. Seed Phrase
The master key to your wallet. Usually 12 or 24 random words.
If someone gets it, they own everything.
Never share it. Never screenshot it. Never lose it.
Seriously.
9. Rug Pull
When a crypto project vanishes overnight — along with everyone’s money.
Usually happens in sketchy DeFi or token projects. The devs hype it up, collect funds, then disappear.
Poof. Money gone.
10. Pump and Dump
When a group hypes a coin to drive up the price (pump), then sells everything for profit (dump), leaving everyone else holding the bag.
Spoiler: you’re usually the one holding the bag.
11. DYOR
Do Your Own Research.
Probably the most repeated line in crypto. Means:
Don’t blindly follow advice — read, dig, verify.
Even articles like this? Helpful, sure. But you still gotta look things up yourself.
12. Airdrop
Free crypto! (Sometimes.)
Projects will “airdrop” coins into wallets as a reward or marketing move. Sometimes it’s awesome. Sometimes it’s spammy and dangerous. Don’t click random ones.
13. DeFi
Decentralized Finance.
Apps and platforms built on blockchain that let you borrow, lend, earn interest — without a bank.
Imagine a bank with no bank. Just code and coins. Kinda cool, kinda risky.
14. NFT
Non-Fungible Token.
Digital collectibles or assets — art, music, memes, etc. Each one is unique and verifiable on the blockchain.
Are they silly? Sometimes. Valuable? Also sometimes.
15. To the Moon 🚀
Slang for when a coin’s price goes way, way up. Like, fast.
You’ll see tweets like “$DOGE to the moon!”
It’s part meme, part hope, part chaos.
16. Bagholder
Someone who bought a coin at a high price… and is now holding it while the value tanks.
They’re “holding the bags.”
We’ve all been there. It hurts.
17. Shill
When someone aggressively promotes a coin — usually because they already own it.
“Dude, you gotta buy $FlokiMoonShibaX. It’s the future!”
Nah. That’s a shill.
18. Stablecoin
A coin that stays stable — usually tied to the US dollar or another currency.
Popular ones: USDT, USDC, DAI.
Used for trading, saving, and chilling out when the market’s wild.
19. On-Chain vs Off-Chain
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On-chain = happens on the blockchain. Transparent, public, permanent.
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Off-chain = happens privately or outside the blockchain. Faster, but less transparent.
20. WAGMI
We’re All Gonna Make It.
A rallying cry. A meme. A lie? Depends on the day.
Used to hype each other up when the market looks rough.
Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need to Know Everything
Crypto has its own culture. Its own language. And yeah — it’s a lot at first.
But you don’t need to memorize all of this in one go. Bookmark it. Revisit it. Learn as you go.
Before long, you’ll be throwing around terms like “HODL” and “rug pull” like a seasoned degen.
Well… maybe don’t go full degen.