Blockchain Primitives
Understand the building blocks of decentralized networks
User Experience (7)
Account Abstraction
Smart contract accounts that enable programmable transaction validation and improved UX
Cryptographic Signing
Digital signatures that authenticate blockchain transactions and prove ownership without revealing private keys
Gasless Transactions
Methods for executing blockchain transactions without users paying gas fees directly
Intents
Declarative transaction systems where users specify desired outcomes rather than execution paths
Key Management
Practices and tools for securely generating, storing, and using cryptographic keys that control blockchain assets
Multisignature Wallets
Wallets requiring multiple private key signatures to authorize transactions for enhanced security
Social Recovery
Account recovery mechanisms using trusted contacts or guardians instead of seed phrases
Architecture (3)
Account Models
The fundamental data structures blockchains use to track ownership and state, either account-based or UTXO
Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG)
Data structure where transactions confirm each other without traditional blocks
Modular Blockchains
Blockchain design separating execution, consensus, data availability, and settlement into specialized layers
Economics (9)
Airdrops
Token distribution events that reward early users, contributors, or specific wallet addresses
Fee Markets
Dynamic pricing mechanisms that determine transaction costs based on network demand and block space
Gas
Unit measuring computational effort required to execute blockchain operations
Maximal Extractable Value (MEV)
Value extracted by block producers through transaction ordering, insertion, or censorship
Token Burning
Permanently removing tokens from circulation by sending them to inaccessible addresses
Token Distribution
The allocation and release of tokens across stakeholder groups including teams, investors, and communities
Token Inflation
The rate at which new tokens are created and added to the circulating supply over time
Token Vesting
Time-locked release schedules that gradually distribute tokens to teams, investors, and contributors
Tokenomics
The economic design of cryptocurrency tokens including supply, distribution, and incentives
Consensus (17)
Attestations
Validator votes on block validity and chain head that drive consensus in proof-of-stake networks
Block Production
The process of creating new blocks containing transactions and adding them to the blockchain
Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT)
Consensus approach enabling agreement even when some participants are malicious
Consensus Protocols
Mechanisms enabling distributed networks to agree on a single state without central authority
Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS)
Consensus mechanism where token holders vote for delegates who validate transactions
Epochs
Fixed time periods that structure validator duties, rewards, and finality in proof-of-stake networks
Finality
The guarantee that blockchain transactions cannot be reversed or altered
Hashgraph Consensus
Distributed consensus algorithm using gossip protocol and virtual voting for high throughput
Proof of Authority
Consensus mechanism where approved validators stake their identity and reputation to validate blocks
Proof of History
Cryptographic clock providing verifiable passage of time
Proof of Space-Time
Consensus mechanism proving storage space allocation over time to secure the network
Proof of Stake
Consensus mechanism where validators stake tokens to secure the network
Proof of Storage
Cryptographic proof that data is being stored correctly and retrievably by network participants
Proof of Transfer
Consensus mechanism that recycles Bitcoin's security by requiring BTC transfers to mine blocks
Proof of Work
Consensus mechanism requiring computational work to create new blocks
Slashing
Penalty mechanism that destroys validator stake for protocol violations like double-signing or downtime
Staking
Locking cryptocurrency to participate in network security and earn rewards
DeFi (16)
Automated Market Maker (AMM)
Algorithm-based trading mechanism that provides liquidity through mathematical formulas
Bonding Curves
Mathematical formulas that determine token prices based on supply, enabling automated market making
Decentralized Exchanges
Peer-to-peer trading platforms enabling trustless cryptocurrency exchange without intermediaries
DeFi Insurance
Protocols providing coverage against smart contract failures, hacks, and other DeFi risks
DeFi Vaults
Smart contract pools that automate yield strategies by depositing user funds into optimized positions
Flash Loans
Uncollateralized loans that must be borrowed and repaid within a single transaction block
Lending Protocols
Decentralized platforms enabling permissionless borrowing and lending of crypto assets through smart contracts
Liquid Staking
Protocols that issue tradeable tokens representing staked assets
Liquidity Mining
Reward programs that distribute tokens to users who provide liquidity to DeFi protocols
Liquidity Pools
Smart contract reserves of tokens that enable decentralized trading and lending
Perpetual Futures
Derivative contracts without expiration that track asset prices using funding rate mechanisms
Real World Assets (RWA)
Tokenized representations of physical assets like real estate, commodities, and securities on blockchain
Restaking
Reusing staked assets to secure additional protocols and earn multiple layers of yield
Stablecoins
Cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a stable value, typically pegged to fiat currencies
Synthetic Assets
Tokenized derivatives that track the price of real-world or crypto assets without holding the underlying
Yield Farming
Strategy of maximizing returns by moving assets between DeFi protocols to earn rewards and incentives
Scalability (9)
Blob Transactions
Large data attachments for rollup data availability with separate fee markets and temporary storage
Layer 2
Scaling solutions that process transactions off-chain while inheriting base layer security
Preconfirmations
Commitments from block producers to include transactions before they appear in finalized blocks
Rollups
Layer 2 scaling solutions that execute transactions off-chain and post proofs or data to the base layer
Sequencers
Operators that order and batch transactions in Layer 2 rollups before submitting to the base layer
Sharding
Technique that partitions blockchain state and processing across multiple groups
Sidechains
Independent blockchains connected to a main chain through two-way pegs for asset transfers
State Channels
Off-chain transaction execution between parties with on-chain settlement only for disputes
Transaction Batching
Combining multiple operations into single transactions to reduce costs and improve efficiency
Infrastructure (18)
Block Explorers
Web interfaces for viewing blockchain data including transactions, addresses, and smart contracts
Blockchain Indexing
Services that organize and query blockchain data efficiently for application development
Cross-Chain Communication
Protocols and mechanisms enabling data and asset transfer between different blockchain networks
Cross-Chain Messaging
Protocols enabling smart contracts on different blockchains to communicate and trigger actions
Decentralized Networks
Distributed systems without central control where participants collectively maintain network operations
Decentralized Storage
Distributed systems for permanent, censorship-resistant data storage on blockchain networks
Distributed Computing
Decentralized networks providing computational resources for rendering, AI, and processing tasks
Faucets
Services that distribute free testnet tokens for development and testing purposes
Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC)
Standardized protocol for secure message and asset transfer between sovereign blockchains
Light Clients
Minimal blockchain nodes that verify transactions using block headers without storing full chain data
Oracle Networks
Decentralized systems that aggregate and deliver off-chain data to smart contracts reliably
Oracles
Services that provide external data to blockchain smart contracts
RPC Nodes
Blockchain endpoints that enable applications to read chain data and submit transactions
Smart Contract Security
Practices and tools for identifying and preventing vulnerabilities in blockchain code
Testnets
Parallel blockchain networks for testing applications without risking real assets
Timelocks
Smart contract mechanisms that delay execution of transactions or parameter changes
Token Standards
Standardized smart contract interfaces that define how tokens behave and interact across applications
Wrapped Tokens
Tokenized representations of assets from other blockchains or non-ERC20 formats
Network (6)
Blockchain Forks
Chain splits that occur when nodes follow different versions of the blockchain, either temporarily or permanently
Blockchain Transactions
Cryptographically signed instructions that transfer value or trigger smart contract execution
Mempool
Temporary storage for pending transactions awaiting inclusion in a block
Nodes
Computers that maintain, validate, and propagate blockchain data
Protocol Upgrades
Coordinated changes to blockchain software that modify consensus rules or add new features
Validators
Nodes that verify transactions and produce blocks in Proof of Stake networks
Applications (5)
Blockchain Gaming
Video games leveraging blockchain for true ownership, play-to-earn mechanics, and decentralized economies
Decentralized Finance (DeFi)
Financial services built on blockchain without traditional intermediaries
Decentralized Identity
Self-sovereign identity systems where users control their own credentials and data
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)
Unique digital assets representing ownership of items like art, collectibles, and virtual goods
Soulbound Tokens
Non-transferable tokens representing credentials, achievements, or identity attributes
Cryptography (5)
Blockchain Privacy
Techniques and protocols enabling confidential transactions and data on public blockchains
Cryptographic Hashing
One-way functions that convert data into fixed-size fingerprints for verification and data integrity
Merkle Trees
Data structure enabling efficient verification of large datasets using cryptographic hashes
On-Chain Randomness
Verifiable random number generation for fair selection, gaming, and unpredictable outcomes on blockchain
Zero-Knowledge Proofs
Cryptographic method to prove knowledge of information without revealing the information itself
Interoperability (1)
Scaling (5)
Data Availability
Guarantees that transaction data is published and accessible for verification by network participants
Optimistic Rollups
Layer 2 scaling solution that assumes transactions are valid by default
Parachains
Application-specific blockchains that connect to a central relay chain for shared security
Subnets
Independent blockchain networks with custom rules and validators
ZK Rollups
Layer 2 scaling using zero-knowledge proofs for instant finality
Organization (2)
Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs)
Internet-native organizations governed by smart contracts and token-based voting
Governance
Mechanisms for decentralized decision-making in blockchain protocols
Execution (3)
Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)
The runtime environment for smart contracts on Ethereum and compatible chains
Smart Contracts
Self-executing programs that run on blockchain networks
UTXO Model
Unspent Transaction Output model for tracking blockchain balances