If crypto phrases like “diamond hands,” “whale moves,” and “to the moon” leave you scratching your head, you’re not alone. Just like bankers have their own terms, crypto does too. Did you know that bankers call a “billion” a “yard.” Know these terms and you’ll be speaking crypto with confidence in no time.
Building Blocks
Crypto (Cryptocurrency) – A digital asset that can work like money, or a store of value (like gold), or a unique collectible (like art). What makes it truly special is that it’s completely yours–no middlemen control it.
Blockchain – A public system that operates under a set of rules no one can change. That system guarantees that if someone says they own a crypto asset they really do own it. It also prevents them from spending the same asset twice.
DeFi (Decentralized Finance) – Financial tools (borrowing, trading, lending) that run on the blockchain. There are no “working hours” or physical banks here.
Token / Coin – A unit of value on a blockchain.
Wallet – An app, browser extension or hardware device that holds your tokens. You can control your own wallet or have an exchange hold it for you.
Private Key – Your wallet’s master password; a secret string of letters and numbers that proves you own the coins at a given address. If you lose it (or someone else gets a hold of it) your coins can be stolen.
Seed Phrase (Recovery Phrase) – An added passcode, usually 12 or 24 random words. This should be written down on paper and stored in a safe location. This is used if for any reason you lose or forget your private keys.
Stablecoin – A token designed to track a steady asset (typically the U.S. dollar), usually with the aim to combat price fluctuations. Trusted stablecoins are backed 1:1 with dollars.
Memecoin – Crypto tokens created for humor or internet culture, rather than for a serious purpose like being able to pay with it. Memecoins (like Dogecoin or Shiba Inu) often start as jokes or social-media trends. Their prices tend to rise and fall based on online hype and people buy and trade them as digital collectibles–they don’t usually have real world utility like other cryptocurrencies.
DYOR (Do Your Own Research) – A reminder, often in forums or chat groups, that crypto can be full of hype; read up before you invest.
Gas Fee – The fee that sometimes attaches to a crypto transaction so the blockchain network processes it.
Bullish Talk (Optimistic Slang)
Whale – A big holder of crypto.
Pump – A rapid price surge, often hyped on social media.
HODL – “Hold on for dear life.” Originated from a typo, now a rallying cry for crypto enthusiasts who believe you should never sell your crypto.
Lambo – Short for Lamborghini. A shorthand for “get‑rich payoff,” as in “Wen Lambo?” i.e. “When will this cryptocurrency's value increase enough so I can afford a Lamborghini?"
Moon / Mooning – A crypto token’s price shooting upward fast like a rocket i.e. “BTC is going to the moon.”
Diamond Hands – Refusing to sell, no matter how rough the market gets.
Flippening – The hypothetical moment when one crypto (for example XRP) overtakes another (for example ETH) in total market value.
Sats (Satoshis) – The smallest unit of Bitcoin (0.00000001 BTC). “Stacking sats” means accumulating tiny bits over time.
Bearish Talk (Cautionary Slang)
Degen (Degenerate) – Someone who dives into ultra‑risky bets with little research.
Bagholder – Someone stuck with coins that have crashed, hoping they bounce back.
FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) – The urge to buy because everyone else seems to be making money.
FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) – Negative rumors (true or not) that shake confidence.
Paper Hands – Selling at the first sign of trouble. Opposite of diamond hands.
REKT – “Wrecked.” Taking a big financial hit from a bad trade or leverage.
Rug Pull – A project that vanishes with investor money, leaving holders empty‑handed.
Dead Cat Bounce – A brief price uptick that quickly fizzles, giving false hope during a downtrend.
New lingo will continue to surface as you explore crypto—but there’s no need to be intimidated. Crypto isn’t limited to coders or day‑traders; it’s a toolkit anyone can learn to use. Focus on the fundamentals, tune out the hype, and you’ll find its benefits are truly for everyone.