Daedalus Wallet
A desktop-only, full-node wallet built for Cardano. It allows users to run their own node and manage ADA with full control over private keys, offering strong security but requiring full blockchain synchronization.
DAO Summoning
The act of launching a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), typically by deploying its governance structure and smart contracts. The term is often used in the context of Moloch-style DAOs but can apply to any on-chain community setup.
Dark Web
A segment of the internet that operates through encrypted networks and requires special tools like Tor to access. It's not indexed by traditional search engines and is often associated with privacy-focused or illicit activity.
Darknodes
Computers that participate in the RenVM network by providing computational resources in exchange for rewards. They collectively help facilitate decentralized interoperability between blockchains.
Data Availability Sampling (DAS)
A technique that allows nodes in a blockchain network to verify that all necessary data in a block exists, without downloading the entire block. DAS is used to improve scalability and security in data-heavy decentralized systems.
Data Privacy
Refers to the responsible collection, handling, and protection of personal or sensitive information. In crypto, data privacy often intersects with self-sovereign identity, encrypted messaging, and privacy coins.
Data Scraping
The process of extracting structured information from websites using scripts or tools. While useful for market analysis, scraping must respect site terms and legal boundaries.
Data Validation
A process that ensures data is accurate, complete, and usable before being processed or stored. On-chain, this can involve verifying transactions or smart contract inputs.
Date of Launch
The scheduled start time for a crypto project’s token sale, product rollout, or network activation. Important for traders monitoring new listings or bot-ready pairs.
Day Trading
A strategy that involves buying and selling financial instruments within a single day to profit from short-term price fluctuations. Traders often use SmartTrade on 3Commas to automate rapid execution.
Dead Cat Bounce
A temporary uptick in price after a significant drop, often mistaken for a recovery. Traders view it as a bear market trap and may set stop losses or trailing conditions to protect against it.
Dead Coin
A cryptocurrency that is no longer maintained, traded, or supported. Dead coins may result from failed projects, rug pulls, or zero liquidity.
Death Cross
A bearish chart pattern that occurs when a short-term moving average crosses below a long-term moving average (e.g., 50-day drops below 200-day). Often interpreted as a signal of sustained downward momentum.
Decentralization Maximalism
The belief that fully decentralized systems are inherently superior and that any compromise involving centralization undermines the values of crypto.
Decentralization Ratio
A metric that compares the value of decentralized collateral to the total supply of a stablecoin. A higher ratio suggests greater resilience against centralized control or censorship.
Decentralized
A structure where no single entity has control. In blockchain, decentralization allows participants to verify and interact with systems without relying on trusted intermediaries.
Decentralized API (dAPI)
A blockchain-native API that serves data from decentralized sources. dAPIs are typically governed by DAOs and eliminate reliance on centralized infrastructure.
Decentralized Applications (DApps)
Applications that operate on a blockchain rather than a centralized server. DApps use smart contracts and often integrate tokens to incentivize user participation.
Decentralized Autonomous Initial Coin Offerings (DAICO)
A fundraising model that blends DAOs with ICOs, allowing investors to vote on how funds are spent and reclaim unused capital if a project underdelivers.
Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAO)
Organizations run by smart contracts and governed by community voting. DAOs coordinate activities without hierarchical leadership, relying on token-based governance.
Decentralized Currency
A form of money not controlled by a central authority. Most cryptocurrencies are decentralized, meaning their supply and transaction validation are distributed across a network.
Decentralized Database
A data storage system where records are spread across multiple nodes. It resists censorship and downtime, supporting trustless access and redundancy.
Decentralized Derivatives
Derivatives products like options or futures built on smart contracts and traded on decentralized platforms. They provide leverage and hedging without traditional intermediaries.
Decentralized Exchange (DEX)
A trading platform that matches buy and sell orders using blockchain protocols rather than centralized order books. Users retain custody of their funds at all times.
Decentralized Governance
A model where control over protocol upgrades and decisions is distributed among participants, usually through voting mechanisms tied to tokens or nodes.
Decentralized GPU
A shared computing network where users rent out GPU power to support blockchain tasks like AI processing or mining. Offers an alternative to centralized cloud services.
Decentralized Identifier (DID)
A cryptographically secure, verifiable identity tied to a blockchain, enabling decentralized identity management without a centralized registry.
Decentralized Marketplace
An e-commerce or trading system built on blockchain, allowing users to buy and sell directly without middlemen. Often powered by smart contracts and token incentives.
Decentralized Network
A communication or computational network where no central point of control exists. Each node operates independently while following shared protocols.
Decentralized Order Book
A distributed system that matches trades without a central authority. Orders are posted and executed via smart contracts or peer-to-peer networks.
Decentralized Payment Network
A system for transferring value between users without traditional banks or processors. Bitcoin, Lightning Network, and other crypto payment layers fall under this category.
Decentralized Social Media
Social platforms that store content and identity on blockchain. Users own their data and content is censorship-resistant by design.
Decentralized Stablecoin
A stablecoin maintained via algorithms or decentralized collateral, rather than reserves held by a centralized custodian.
Decentralized Vehicle-to-Everything (D-V2X)
A concept where connected vehicles communicate through blockchain-based networks, improving data transparency and eliminating reliance on a central server.
Decryption
The act of converting encrypted data back into its original readable format. It's a core process in secure communication, especially when handling sensitive wallet or exchange information.
Deep Web
A part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines. It includes private databases, gated content, and anything requiring login access—not to be confused with the dark web.
DeFi (Decentralized Finance)
An ecosystem of blockchain-based tools and protocols that replicate traditional financial services (like lending, borrowing, and trading) without centralized institutions.
DeFi Aggregator
A tool that pulls together services like lending rates or token swaps from multiple DeFi protocols to find users the best value in a single interface.
DeFi Degens
Traders who take highly speculative positions in experimental or unverified DeFi projects, often chasing fast returns at high risk.
Deflation
A decrease in the general price level of goods and services. In crypto, deflation can occur when token supplies are burned or reduced intentionally over time.
Delayed Proof of Work (dPoW)
A consensus method where one blockchain uses the security of another—typically Bitcoin—to prevent 51% attacks by anchoring its data to the stronger chain.
Delegated Proof-of-Stake (dPoS)
A consensus system where token holders elect a fixed number of validators to propose and confirm blocks. Known for faster transactions and lower energy use than PoW.
Delisting
The removal of a cryptocurrency from an exchange, usually due to low volume, inactivity, or project failure. Delisted tokens become unavailable for trading on that platform.
Demurrage
A charge applied to holding an asset over time, encouraging spending rather than hoarding. Some alternative monetary systems and stablecoins experiment with demurrage models.
Dencun Upgrade
An Ethereum upgrade combining the Deneb (consensus layer) and Cancun (execution layer) changes. Aims to improve scalability and data availability, particularly through proto-danksharding.
Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attack
An attack designed to make a website or service unavailable by overwhelming it with requests or data. It's a common cyber threat across both centralized and decentralized systems.
Depeg
When a stablecoin or pegged asset loses its fixed value relative to another asset (e.g., 1 USDT ≠ $1). Depegs can happen due to volatility, low liquidity, or loss of trust in collateral.
DePEN (Decentralized Power & Energy Network)
A subset of DePIN focused on blockchain-powered, peer-to-peer energy systems. It enables individuals to generate, store, and sell electricity without a centralized grid.
DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network)
A concept where real-world infrastructure (e.g., energy grids, telecom, storage) is built and operated through decentralized coordination using blockchain.
Depth Chart
A graphical representation of buy (bid) and sell (ask) orders on an exchange. It helps traders visualize supply and demand and identify potential support/resistance levels.
Derivative
A financial instrument that derives its value from an underlying asset (like BTC or ETH). Includes futures, options, and other contracts used for speculation or hedging.
Derivatives Market
A marketplace for trading derivative instruments. In crypto, this includes perpetual futures, leveraged tokens, and options traded on exchanges like Binance Futures.
Desktop Wallet
A software wallet installed on a computer that stores private keys locally. More secure than web wallets but still requires strong device protection and backups.
Deterministic Wallet
A wallet that can generate a sequence of keys from a single seed phrase. Common in HD (hierarchical deterministic) wallets used across most modern crypto tools.
DEX Aggregator
A platform that connects multiple decentralized exchanges to find the best price for a token swap. It helps users access liquidity without manually comparing each DEX.
Dharma Protocol
A former open-source protocol that allowed users to create and manage crypto-based debt markets on Ethereum. It was an early pioneer in DeFi lending models.
Diamond Hands
A term popularized in meme culture, referring to someone who holds onto an asset through volatility and declines, believing in its long-term value.
Difficulty
A measure of how hard it is to mine a new block in proof-of-work blockchains. It adjusts periodically to maintain consistent block times regardless of network activity.
Digital
A broad term describing anything involving electronic technology, particularly related to data, assets, and identities stored or processed on computers or networks.
Digital Art
Artwork created or rendered using digital tools. In crypto, it’s often tied to NFTs (non-fungible tokens) which verify ownership and provenance on-chain.
Digital Asset
Any item of value that exists in digital form and can be owned or transferred. This includes cryptocurrencies, tokens, digital documents, and NFTs.
Digital Asset Custodian
A company or service that safely stores digital assets on behalf of clients. They provide secure key management and compliance services for institutions.
Digital Asset Ecosystem
The complete infrastructure supporting digital assets, including wallets, exchanges, DApps, and protocols that interact with cryptocurrencies.
Digital Barter Economy
An economy that uses tokenized or digital assets to facilitate trade without relying on traditional currencies or cash equivalents.
Digital Commodity
A digital good that holds market value and can be exchanged, such as tokenized real estate, virtual land, or crypto-based resources.
Digital Currency
A form of money that exists only in digital form. Unlike physical bills or coins, it is transferred electronically and may be centralized or decentralized.
Digital Dollar
A proposed central bank digital currency (CBDC) issued by the United States Federal Reserve. Would be a digitized version of the U.S. dollar on a blockchain.
Digital Identity
The unique set of credentials and data that verifies a user or entity in digital environments. May be linked to blockchain for privacy and control.
Digital Signature
A cryptographic technique that confirms the origin and integrity of digital data. It’s widely used in blockchain transactions and smart contracts.
Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA)
A public-key algorithm used to generate digital signatures. Though not specific to crypto, it underpins secure communications in distributed networks.
Dildo
Crypto slang for a large candlestick (usually green or red) that represents sharp price movement on a chart. Not to be confused with… well, anything else.
Dip
A temporary price decline that may present a buying opportunity in an overall uptrend. Many 3Commas bots are configured to average down during dips.
Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG)
A non-linear structure used by some blockchains (e.g., IOTA) as an alternative to traditional chains. It allows multiple transactions to be processed simultaneously.
Discord
A messaging and community platform used by many crypto projects for announcements, support, and community building.
Distributed Consensus
A system where participants in a network agree on the current state of data, typically using algorithms like PoW, PoS, or DPoS to ensure trustless validation.
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attack
A cyberattack where a system is overwhelmed with traffic to disrupt service. Often used maliciously to shut down crypto platforms or wallets.
Distributed Ledger
A database replicated across multiple nodes, where each participant holds a synchronized copy. Blockchains are a type of distributed ledger.
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT)
The broader category of technologies that underpin blockchain systems, including private and permissioned networks.
Distributed Network
A network model where data and computation are spread across multiple nodes, avoiding a central point of failure.
Distributed Validator Technology (DVT)
A method that decentralizes the responsibilities of a blockchain validator across multiple nodes or individuals, improving resilience and uptime.
Distribution Phase
A technical analysis term describing when assets are gradually sold off after a strong upward trend, often indicating a market top.
Diversification
A risk management strategy where investments are spread across different assets or sectors to reduce exposure to any one source of risk.
Diversified Proof of Stake
A variation of PoS that allows multiple token types to be staked for security and rewards. Encourages participation across a broader asset base.
Documentation
Written material explaining the details, usage, and functionality of a project or asset—often found in whitepapers, GitHub repos, or product guides.
Dolphin
A slang term for a crypto holder with a moderately large portfolio—typically larger than a fish but smaller than a whale.
Dominance
A measure of how much market cap one asset (usually Bitcoin) holds relative to the total crypto market. Traders watch dominance to gauge market cycles.
Dorian Nakamoto
A real person who was once (incorrectly) identified as Bitcoin’s anonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. He has denied all involvement.
DotSama
A mash-up term referring to the Polkadot and Kusama blockchain ecosystems, known for shared development tools and parachain architecture.
Double Spend Attack
A security flaw where the same digital currency is spent more than once. Blockchain consensus mechanisms exist to prevent this from happening.
Double Spending
The concept behind double spend attacks—where a malicious actor attempts to reverse or duplicate a payment transaction on a blockchain.
dPoSec (Distributed Proof of Security)
A consensus method designed to keep a network operational even if a significant portion of nodes become malicious or fail.
Drawdown
The percentage loss from an investment’s peak value to its lowest point during a specific time period—used to measure downside risk.
DRC-20
A token standard on the Dogecoin blockchain, modeled after Ethereum’s ERC-20, allowing fungible tokens to be created within Dogecoin’s ecosystem.
Drivechain
A proposed Bitcoin upgrade that would enable experimentation with sidechains—allowing for new features without compromising Bitcoin’s core.
Dual Governance
A DAO structure where two distinct groups share control over decisions. This may involve technical and community stakeholders balancing influence.
Dual-Token Economy
A project model where one token is used for utility (e.g., transactions) and another for fundraising or governance, helping to separate functions and incentives.
Dump
A sudden, sharp sell-off of a token or asset, often triggering panic and price drops across the market.
Dumping
A coordinated or high-volume sell-off, typically involving large holders or insider actors. Can result in price crashes or market manipulation.
Dust Transactions
Tiny amounts of crypto left in wallets—often too small to trade due to fees. Some exchanges offer dust conversion tools.
Dusting Attack
A method to de-anonymize wallet owners by sending trace amounts of crypto to their address and tracking how those funds move.
DYCO (Dynamic Coin Offering)
A crowdfunding method where tokens are backed by stablecoins and can be refunded during the early stages of a project—aiming to protect early investors.
DYOR (Do Your Own Research)
A crypto mantra that reminds users to investigate projects, tokens, and strategies before investing—especially in volatile or speculative markets.