Crypto Slang and Jargon Explained: Complete Glossary of Cryptocurrency Terms (2025 Update)

New to the world of crypto? You're not alone. Cryptocurrency has created its own unique language filled with slang, abbreviations, memes, and technical terms. Whether you're trading, exploring NFTs, or just scrolling through Crypto Twitter, you'll come across these words all the time. In this guide, I've organized the most commonly used cryptocurrency slang and jargon into easy-to-understand lists—so you can feel confident and informed, no matter your experience level.

Why You Should Know These Crypto Terms

Understanding the language of crypto helps you avoid scams, follow market trends, and connect with the community. It also ensures you're not left scratching your head when someone says “HODL” or “Wen Lambo?” in a comment thread.

What are the Common Terms and Slang Used in Cryptocurrency?

The crypto world has developed its own language, filled with common used words, slang, technical jargon, crypto glossary and insider humor. Whether you're new to digital assets or just want to stay in the loop, here’s a categorized list of terms you’ll often encounter in the crypto community:

1. Trading and Market Behavior

1. HODL – Originally a typo for "hold", now means “Hold On for Dear Life,” referring to not selling during market dips.
2. FOMO – Fear Of Missing Out; the anxiety of missing a potentially profitable investment.
3. FUD – Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt; negative sentiment spread to cause panic or hesitation.
4. REKT – Slang for “wrecked,” describing a significant loss from a bad trade or market crash.
5. Moon – A dramatic price surge. ("This coin is going to the moon!")
6. Bagholder – Someone stuck holding a coin that has dropped in value.
7. Ape In – Jumping into a crypto investment impulsively without research.
8. Whale – A person or group holding enough crypto to influence market prices.
9. Pump and Dump – Inflating a coin's price through hype and selling it off at the peak.
10. Exit Liquidity – When late investors unknowingly help early ones cash out.
11. Buy Wall / Sell Wall – Large orders that signal or manipulate price direction.
12. Dead Cat Bounce – A short-lived recovery in a declining market.
13. Crab Market – A market moving sideways with minimal volatility.
14. ATH / ATL – All-Time High / All-Time Low; highest or lowest recorded price.
15. BTD / BTFD – “Buy the Dip / Buy The F***ing Dip”; buying when prices drop.
16. Bearish / Bullish – Negative (bearish) or positive (bullish) market sentiment.

2. Community and Cultural Terms

1. Sats – Short for Satoshis, the smallest Bitcoin unit (1 BTC = 100,000,000 sats).
2. Diamond Hands – Holding crypto firmly despite market dips.
3. Paper Hands – Selling quickly at the first sign of loss.
4. WAGMI – "We’re All Gonna Make It"; optimistic crypto rallying cry.
5. NGMI – "Not Gonna Make It"; used when someone makes poor financial moves.
6. Shill – Aggressively promoting a coin, sometimes deceptively.
7. GM / GN – "Good Morning" / "Good Night"; commonly used on Crypto Twitter.
8. Ser – Playful misspelling of "sir" often used in memes and banter.
9. LFG – "Let’s F***ing Go!"; shows excitement or support.
10. CT – "Crypto Twitter"; discussions and community content about crypto on Twitter/X.
11. Degen – Short for "degenerate", referring to high-risk traders.
12. No Coiner – Someone who owns no crypto.
13. Noob / Newb – A beginner or inexperienced person in crypto.

3. Technology and Coin Types

1. Altcoin – Any cryptocurrency that is not Bitcoin.
2. Shitcoin – A coin with no real utility or long-term value.
3. DeFi – Decentralized Finance; financial tools on blockchain without intermediaries.
4. NFT – Non-Fungible Token; a unique digital asset often used in art and collectibles.
5. Smart Contract – Code that automatically executes agreements on the blockchain.
6. Layer 1 / Layer 2 – Base blockchains (Layer 1) and scaling solutions (Layer 2).
7. Gas Fees – Transaction fees on blockchains like Ethereum.
8. Gwei – A small unit of Ethereum used for gas fees (1 Gwei = 0.000000001 ETH).
9. Fork – A blockchain split into two separate paths or chains.
10. Maximalist – A person who believes only one coin (usually Bitcoin) matters.
11. DEX – Decentralized Exchange; allows peer-to-peer crypto trading.
12. Bridging – Moving crypto assets across different blockchains.

4. Security and Scams

1. Rug Pull – A scam where developers drain funds and abandon a project.
2. Wallet Drainer – Malicious contracts that empty your wallet when approved.
3. SIM Swap – Stealing a phone number to access crypto accounts.
4. Blind Signing – Approving transactions without understanding them, often risky.
5. 2FA – Two-Factor Authentication; extra login security layer.
6. Malicious Link – Fake links designed to steal information or crypto.
7. SetApprovalForAll – A smart contract function that grants access to all tokens in your wallet—dangerous if misused.
8. Seed Phrase – A private key backup phrase for recovering crypto wallets.
9. Private Keys – Secret keys needed to access and control your crypto.

5. ICO and Project Terms

1. ICO – Initial Coin Offering; a token sale to fund a crypto project.
2. Token Sale – Selling tokens to investors, often during early project phases.
3. Whitepaper – A document explaining a crypto project's concept and technical details.
4. Roadmap – A timeline of planned developments for a project.
5. Airdrop – Free distribution of tokens, usually for marketing or loyalty.
6. Early Bird – Early investors who get in before mainstream attention.
7. Guaranteed Returns – Often used in scams; no legitimate project offers these.

6. Meme and Humor

1. When Lambo? – A meme asking when a coin will make you rich enough to buy a Lamborghini.
2. Wen Moon? – A misspelled meme phrase asking when a coin will surge in price.
3. McDonald's – Joke about needing to get a job there after losses.
4. Jeet – Someone who sells too early, often missing big gains.
5. Pepega – A meme term for making foolish decisions.
6. Moonbois – Overly optimistic investors who believe every coin will moon.
7. 💎🙌 – Emoji combo meaning “Diamond Hands”.

7. Common Phrases in Scams and Phishing

1. Free Crypto / Claim Now / Limited Time – Common bait in scam messages.
2. Send to Receive More – A classic scam format where victims are told to send crypto to get more back.
3. Support / Help Desk – Fake support accounts luring victims into revealing info.
4. Verification Required / Urgent – Messages meant to cause panic and steal your info.
5. Recovery / Refund / Investigator – Scammers pretending to help victims reclaim lost funds.

8. General Crypto Terms

1. Fiat – Traditional government-issued currency like USD or INR.
2. Login / Wallet / Exchange – Basic components of crypto use.
3. Deposit / Withdraw / Trade – Common actions on crypto platforms.
4. POS / POW – Proof of Stake / Proof of Work; methods of securing blockchains.
5. NFA – “Not Financial Advice”; used to disclaim investment suggestions.
6. Satoshi Nakamoto – The anonymous creator of Bitcoin.

Conclusion

As cryptocurrency continues to grow and evolve, so does its ever-expanding dictionary of slang and terms. From trading phrases to memes and tech jargon, knowing this lingo is essential to navigating the space safely and confidently. Bookmark this guide and come back whenever you need a refresher.

Know a Slang We Missed?

Did we miss a crypto term or slang word that you’ve seen online or in the community? Drop it in the comments below and let others learn from you too. The crypto world moves fast, and your input helps keep this guide updated and relevant!