Decryptopedia™

Terms that start with “A”

1. ACH Transfer

   ACH transfer is a money transfer method used by users of centralized cryptocurrency exchanges (CEX) to fund their accounts.

2. Airdrop

   An airdrop is a distribution of free cryptocurrency or tokens usually done as a marketing tactic by new projects. The purpose of giving free crypto via an “airdrop” is to increase user adoption, boost community engagement, or simply build awareness.

3. Alameda Research

   A crypto hedge fund trading firm started by FTX exchange founder and former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) that was known for making huge bets on other crypto companies and businesses. Alamada Research was at the heart of the FTX liquidity crisis that resulted in both FTX and Alameda filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November of 2022.

4. Algorithm

   An Algorithm or algo is just a set of mathematical instructions or rules, programmed into computer software to produce some outcome or solve a specific problem or set of problems. In cryptography and data security, cryptographic algorithms have the job of turning readable data into a form of protected data – data that can’t be read easily by the human eye – and back to readable data.

5. All-Time High (ATH)

   It’s the highest trading price a digital asset has ever reached. It’s a common practice to keep a currency’s ATH in mind when trading, as it can represent an important price level of interest to the market.

6. All-time Low (ATL)

   It’s the lowest trading price a cryptocurrency has ever reached. It’s a common practice to keep a currency’s all-time low (ATL) in mind when trading, as it can represent an important price level of interest for market participants.

7. Altcoin

   Short for “alternative coin” or “bitcoin alternative”, it’s a category given to any coin or token other than Bitcoin (BTC).

8. AMM (Automated Market Maker)

   A protocol that runs on decentralized exchanges (DEX), that takes away the order book that exists on traditional exchanges and replaces it with liquidity pools, a shared pot of tokens locked in a smart contract.

9. ANDOS

   In cryptography, ANDOS is an acronym for All Or Nothing Disclosure of Secrets. ANDOS is a two-party protocol introduced in 1986 by Brassard, Crepeau and Robert (BCR87). In cryptography, two party protocols have a goal of creating a way for two parties to share secret information without the receiving party being able to gain any […]

10. Anonymity

    It keeps your identity hidden, you stay anonymous, and allows you to send or receive digital assets with anyone that has a crypto wallet address, anywhere in the world, without a middle man like a bank to question what you’re sending, how much you’re sending, to whom you’re sending it and why.

11. Anti-Money Laundering (AML)

    A collection of rules, regulations, financial laws, strategies, and best practices used by financial institutions and businesses (like cryptocurrency exchanges and banks) to keep criminals from laundering illegally received currencies.

12. Arbitrage

    Borrowed from traditional finance, it’s the act of quickly buying a digital asset on one cryptocurrency, navigating to another exchange where that same asset is priced higher, and selling that asset for a profit.

13. Atomic Swap

    A trading technique that allows two different parties the ability to swap, or exchange, one cryptocurrency for a completely different cryptocurrency, all without involving a 3rd party like a centralized cryptocurrency exchange (CEX), such as Coinbase.

14. Authentication

    A security process that verifies your identity or login credentials before giving you access to resources, whether that be a blockchain, a cryptocurrency exchange, or a personal crypto wallet.