Glossary & FAQ

A plain-language guide to terms and concepts you'll meet while using a crypto portfolio tracker.

Core Concepts

Blockchain — A shared, append-only digital ledger maintained by a network of computers. Every transaction is grouped into a "block" and chained to the previous one, making the history practically impossible to alter.
Blockchain Network (Chain) — A specific blockchain with its own rules, validators, and native coin (e.g. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana). Coins and tokens generally exist on one network and can't move to another without a bridge.
Crypto Coin — The native currency of a blockchain network, used to pay transaction fees and secure the network (e.g. BTC on Bitcoin, ETH on Ethereum, SOL on Solana).
Token — A unit of value issued on top of an existing blockchain via a smart contract (e.g. USDT or UNI on Ethereum). Tokens follow standards such as ERC-20 (Ethereum), SPL (Solana), BEP-20 (BNB Chain), or TRC-20 (TRON).
Stablecoin — A token designed to hold a steady value, usually pegged 1:1 to a fiat currency like the US dollar (e.g. USDT, USDC). Used to park value without leaving crypto.
Wallet — Software (or hardware) that holds the keys controlling your coins. The blockchain stores the balances; the wallet stores the keys that prove ownership.
Wallet Address — Your public "account number" on a chain — a string you share to receive funds (e.g. 0x… on Ethereum, bc1… on Bitcoin). Safe to share publicly.
Public Key / Private Key — The public key derives your address; the private key signs transactions and must stay secret. Anyone with your private key controls your funds.
Seed Phrase (Recovery Phrase) — A list of 12–24 words that backs up a wallet's private keys. Never share it, never type it into a website, never store it online.

Network Types

L1 (Layer 1) Network — A base blockchain that settles its own transactions and provides its own security (e.g. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, BNB Chain, Avalanche).
L2 (Layer 2) Network — A scaling network built on top of an L1 (usually Ethereum) to make transactions faster and cheaper, while inheriting the L1's security (e.g. Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, zkSync, Linea, Polygon).
Bridge — A service that moves value between two networks (e.g. ETH from Ethereum L1 to Arbitrum L2).
Gas / Network Fee — The cost, paid in the network's native coin, to process a transaction. Higher demand → higher gas.

Consensus Mechanisms

PoW — Proof of Work — Network security comes from miners spending computing power to solve puzzles. Used by Bitcoin. Energy-intensive but battle-tested.
PoS — Proof of Stake — Security comes from validators locking up ("staking") the native coin as collateral. Used by Ethereum, Solana, and most modern chains. More energy-efficient.
Staking — Locking coins to help secure a PoS network in exchange for rewards.
Liquid Staking — Staking via a protocol that gives you a tradable receipt token representing your staked position (e.g. Lido's stETH, Rocket Pool's rETH), so your value stays liquid.

Exchanges & Access

CEX — Centralized Exchange — A company-run platform where you buy, sell, and hold crypto (e.g. Binance, Bybit, Coinbase). The exchange custodies your funds.
DEX — Decentralized Exchange — A smart-contract marketplace where you trade directly from your own wallet, with no custodian (e.g. Uniswap).
API Key + API Secret — A credential pair an exchange issues so other apps can read your account programmatically. The key identifies you; the secret signs requests and is shown only once.
Passphrase — An extra credential some exchanges (OKX, Bitget, KuCoin) require alongside the key and secret.
Read-Only Key — An API key with viewing permissions only — no trading and no withdrawals. This is the only kind of key a tracker like CryptoBaza ever needs.

Market & Analytics Terms

Market Capitalization (Market Cap) — A coin's price × circulating supply; a rough measure of its size.
Fear & Greed Index — A 0–100 sentiment gauge (0 = extreme fear, 100 = extreme greed) summarizing market mood.
Bitcoin Hashrate — The total computing power securing the Bitcoin network; a proxy for network health.
Altcoin Season — A period when altcoins broadly outperform Bitcoin.
AML (Anti-Money-Laundering) Check — A risk score / set of tags for a wallet address indicating links to scams, hacks, or sanctioned entities.
Dust / Spam Tokens — Tiny leftover balances, or unsolicited scam tokens airdropped to your address; usually filtered out of portfolio views.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a crypto coin?

The native currency of a blockchain (BTC, ETH, SOL…). It pays the network's fees and, on Proof-of-Stake chains, secures the network. Tokens (like USDT) are different — they're issued on a chain via a smart contract rather than being the chain's own coin.

What is a blockchain network?

A decentralized ledger run by many computers that agree on a shared transaction history. Each network (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana…) has its own coin, fees, and address format. Assets normally live on one network and need a bridge to move to another.

Where can I find my wallet address?

Open your wallet app and look for Receive, Deposit, or your account name — the address (and usually a QR code) is shown there. It typically looks like 0x… (Ethereum/EVM), bc1… or 1…/3… (Bitcoin), or a long base58 string (Solana). The address is public and safe to share for tracking or receiving funds. Your private key / seed phrase is never the address — never share those.

In CryptoBaza you add a wallet by pasting this address or scanning its QR code. A read-only address can never move your funds.

What is a crypto exchange?

A platform for buying, selling, and storing crypto. Centralized exchanges (CEX) like Binance or Coinbase hold your funds for you and let you log in with an account. Decentralized exchanges (DEX) let you trade straight from your own wallet with no custodian.

How do I connect an exchange to CryptoBaza?

You create a read-only API key on the exchange and paste the API Key, API Secret (and a passphrase for OKX/Bitget/KuCoin) into the app. CryptoBaza then reads your balances automatically. It never needs — and you should never grant — trading or withdrawal permissions.

Is it safe to give an app my API key?

A read-only key only exposes your balances — it cannot trade or withdraw, even if leaked. CryptoBaza stores keys encrypted on your device (secure storage), never on a server, and sends each key only to the exchange it belongs to. Still, always create keys with the minimum permissions and never enable withdrawals.

Why would I need third-party API keys (CoinGecko, FRED…)?

Some data comes from external providers. CryptoBaza ships with no shared keys, so it runs on free anonymous tiers that can get rate-limited. Adding your own free keys raises your limits and unlocks features that strictly require a key — the Macro widget (FRED), BSC/Linea balances (Etherscan V2), and ETH staking (Beaconcha.in).