Crypto Basics
The foundational vocabulary and concepts someone needs before any other crypto topic makes sense — what cryptocurrency is, why it exists, and how it differs from money most people already use.
12 guides in this category, ordered from beginner to advanced.
Crypto Basics guides
What Is Cryptocurrency?
The foundational concepts behind cryptocurrency, before diving into blockchain, Bitcoin, or Ethereum specifically.
5 min read · 9 related concepts
How to Choose a Crypto Exchange
A practical framework for evaluating crypto exchanges — security, fees, supported assets, and custody — before creating an account.
6 min read · 17 related concepts
Understanding Crypto Market Capitalization
A practical guide to reading market capitalization — what it measures, what it doesn't, and common misreadings to avoid.
5 min read · 9 related concepts
How Crypto Transactions Actually Work
A step-by-step look at what happens between clicking "send" and a transaction being confirmed.
5 min read · 2 related concepts
Understanding Public and Private Keys
The cryptography behind crypto ownership, explained without requiring a math background.
5 min read · 2 related concepts
Centralized vs. Decentralized Exchanges
How CEXs and DEXs differ in custody, mechanics, and typical trade-offs.
5 min read · 3 related concepts
How Crypto Prices Are Actually Discovered
How buy and sell orders on exchanges actually determine an asset's market price.
5 min read · 1 related concept
Custodial vs. Self-Custody: A Practical Comparison
A practical, side-by-side look at the real trade-offs between the two custody models.
5 min read · 5 related concepts
What Is a Crypto Airdrop?
How crypto airdrops actually work, how eligibility is usually determined, the scams that specifically target them, and how they're generally taxed.
7 min read · 8 related concepts
What Is a Meme Coin?
What actually makes a cryptocurrency a meme coin, the documented rug-pull and pump-and-dump patterns specific to this category, and how to think about the risk.
6 min read · 5 related concepts
What Is a DePIN Network, and How Do Token Incentives Actually Work?
How a Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network actually incentivizes real-world hardware deployment with token rewards.
5 min read · 2 related concepts
How Play-to-Earn Gaming Tokenomics Actually Work
The actual economic structure behind a play-to-earn game's token rewards, and why most historical models have struggled to sustain themselves.
6 min read · 2 related concepts
Key terms in this category
Tokenomics
Read the Tokenomics glossary definition
Vesting
Read the Vesting glossary definition
Airdrop
Read the Airdrop glossary definition
Whitepaper
Read the Whitepaper glossary definition
Protocol
Read the Protocol glossary definition
Native Token
Read the Native Token glossary definition
Cryptocurrency
Read the Cryptocurrency glossary definition
Token
Read the Token glossary definition
Stablecoin
Read the Stablecoin glossary definition
Centralized Exchange
Read the Centralized Exchange glossary definition
Know Your Customer
Read the Know Your Customer glossary definition
Anti-Money Laundering
Read the Anti-Money Laundering glossary definition
Combating the Financing of Terrorism
Read the Combating the Financing of Terrorism glossary definition
Virtual Asset Service Provider
Read the Virtual Asset Service Provider glossary definition
Circulating Supply
Read the Circulating Supply glossary definition
Total Supply
Read the Total Supply glossary definition
Max Supply
Read the Max Supply glossary definition
Market Dominance
Read the Market Dominance glossary definition
Altcoin
Read the Altcoin glossary definition
Blue Chip Crypto
Read the Blue Chip Crypto glossary definition
Meme Coin
Read the Meme Coin glossary definition
Chain Reorganization
Read the Chain Reorganization glossary definition
Double-Spending
Read the Double-Spending glossary definition
Digital Signature
Read the Digital Signature glossary definition
Elliptic Curve Cryptography
Read the Elliptic Curve Cryptography glossary definition
Market Maker
Read the Market Maker glossary definition
Airdrop Farming
Read the Airdrop Farming glossary definition
Rug Pull
Read the Rug Pull glossary definition