Maximal Extractable Value

Blockchain

A distributed, immutable digital ledger that records transactions across a network of computers without a central authority.

Distributed Ledger Technology

A digital system for recording, sharing, and synchronising data across multiple sites without a central administrator.

Consensus Mechanism

The method by which a distributed network agrees on the current state of the ledger and validates transactions.

Proof of Work

A consensus mechanism requiring computational effort to validate transactions and create new blocks, used by Bitcoin.

Proof of Stake

A consensus mechanism where validators are selected based on the amount of cryptocurrency they hold and stake.

Delegated Proof of Stake

A consensus mechanism where token holders vote for delegates who validate transactions on their behalf.

Byzantine Fault Tolerance

The ability of a distributed system to reach consensus despite some nodes acting maliciously or failing.

Merkle Tree

A hash-based data structure that efficiently verifies the integrity and consistency of large sets of data.

Hash Function

A mathematical function that converts input data of any size into a fixed-size output, used extensively in blockchain security.

Cryptographic Hash

A one-way function producing a fixed-length output that is computationally infeasible to reverse or find collisions for.

Public Key Cryptography

An encryption system using mathematically linked key pairs — a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption.

Digital Signature

A cryptographic mechanism that verifies the authenticity and integrity of digital messages or documents.

A cryptocurrency wallet connected to the internet for convenient but less secure asset management.

An organisation governed by smart contracts and token holder votes rather than centralised management.

A separate blockchain connected to a main chain through a two-way bridge, allowing assets to move between them.

A blockchain token where each unit is identical and interchangeable with any other unit of the same token.

Converting rights to real-world assets into digital tokens on a blockchain for fractional ownership and trading.

Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Argument of Knowledge — a compact zero-knowledge proof requiring no interaction between prover and verifier.

Physical or traditional financial assets such as real estate, commodities, and securities that are represented as digital tokens on a blockchain for improved liquidity and accessibility.

The practice of using already-staked cryptocurrency to simultaneously secure additional protocols or services, extending the economic security of one network to others.