List of Acronyms & Abbreviations used in BLOCKCHAIN & CRYPTO

Application Blockchain Interface (ABCI), is a communication protocol developed by the Alibaba Blockchain Research Center. It is designed to facilitate communication between different blockchain applications running on different blockchain networks. ABCI allows these applications to interact with each other without requiring them to be integrated into a single blockchain network. This makes it easier for developers to build complex blockchain systems that can leverage multiple blockchain networks simultaneously. ABCI also provides a standardized interface for developers to interact with blockchain networks, simplifying development and reducing development costs. Overall, ABCI aims to promote interoperability between blockchain networks and enable more efficient and scalable blockchain applications.

Application Binary Interface (ABI), is a set of rules that define how compiled binary code interacts with an operating system's kernel and other libraries. It specifies how functions are called, how arguments are passed, how data is stored in memory, and how errors are handled. ABI ensures binary compatibility between different versions of an operating system or between different implementations of a language compiler. It allows compiled binaries to run on different hardware architectures without requiring recompilation or modification. In summary, ABI is essential for ensuring that software applications can be easily ported across different platforms while maintaining their functionality and performance.

The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a commonly used encryption algorithm selected by NIST in 2001 to replace DES due to its high security level, efficiency, and flexibility with various block sizes and key lengths. AES operates by applying mathematical transformations called rounds using a key as a parameter to a fixed block size of 128 bits with key lengths ranging from 128 to 256 bits each having a specific number of rounds (10 for 128 bits, 12 for 192 bits, and 14 for 256 bits). While AES offers increasing security with longer key lengths, a fixed number of rounds for each key length may not provide proportionally greater security beyond a certain point (around 256 bits). AES is susceptible to attacks if the key is poorly managed or encryption implementation is weak. Despite these limitations AES remains a trusted encryption algorithm.

BTC[mp] is a protocol that enables smart contract functionality on the Bitcoin blockchain. It uses existing Bitcoin scripting language and includes features such as multi-party computation, time-lock contracts, conditional payments, and oracles. The protocol is still in development, and challenges such as scalability, privacy, and interoperability are being addressed through ongoing research efforts by the BTC[mp] team as decentralized finance continues to grow in popularity within the cryptocurrency industry.

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Brewer’s Consistency Availability Partition-Tolerance(CAP) theorem, which requires a distributed system to have consistency, availability and partition tolerance.

Consistency is basically obtained by some kind of a notion of a consensus that the data at each node or notion of the shared state space at each node is the same consistent view.

Availability means that it should be available. The service or whatever service it is providing should be available all the time.

Partition tolerance means since it is a decentralized system, so if some part of it becomes offline, even then the system should be able to work.

A centralized exchange (CEX) is a digital platform that allows users to buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies using fiat currency or other digital assets. CEXs are operated by a central authority, which manages the security, maintenance, and customer support of the exchange. This type of exchange is popular among beginners and those who prefer the security and convenience of a regulated platform. However, CEXs may have higher fees and less privacy compared to decentralized exchanges (DEXs).

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index (CFGI) is a sentiment-based measurement tool that indicates the current emotional state of the cryptocurrency market. It helps investors understand whether the market is driven by fear, greed, or a balanced approach. The index uses a scale from 0 to 100, with values below 30 indicating extreme fear, values between 30 and 59 suggesting fear, values between 60 and 79 indicating greed, and values above 80 signifying extreme greed. The CFGI is calculated based on several factors, including market momentum/volume, social media sentiment, surveys of investors' sentiment, and volatility. By analyzing these factors, the index provides valuable insights into the current market environment, helping investors make informed decisions and adjust their strategies accordingly.

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index (CFGI) is a sentiment-based measurement tool that indicates the current emotional state of the cryptocurrency market. It helps investors understand whether the market is driven by fear, greed, or a balanced approach. The index uses a scale from 0 to 100, with values below 30 indicating extreme fear, values between 30 and 59 suggesting fear, values between 60 and 79 indicating greed, and values above 80 signifying extreme greed. The CFGI is calculated based on several factors, including market momentum/volume, social media sentiment, surveys of investors' sentiment, and volatility. By analyzing these factors, the index provides valuable insights into the current market environment, helping investors make informed decisions and adjust their strategies accordingly.

CoinMarketCap (CMC) is a widely recognized platform that provides cryptocurrency market data, such as the ranking of cryptocurrencies based on market capitalization, trading volume, and liquidity. It serves as a comprehensive resource for users to track and analyze various digital assets, including popular coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as lesser-known altcoins. CMC aggregates data from numerous exchanges worldwide, enabling users to make informed decisions about their investments in the cryptocurrency market. CoinMarketCap is a valuable resource for those interested in cryptocurrencies, providing comprehensive data and tools to help users navigate the ever-changing landscape of digital assets. Despite its popularity and usefulness, CoinMarketCap has faced criticism in the past for its ranking methodology and the accuracy of data provided by some exchanges. However, the platform continues to evolve and improve its services to better serve the cryptocurrency community.

Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG), is a type of graph used in distributed computing systems to manage the execution of multiple tasks simultaneously. Each node in the DAG represents a task or computation, and directed edges represent dependencies between tasks. The acyclic nature of the graph ensures that tasks can be executed in a specific order without conflicts or dependencies being violated. DAGs allow for parallel processing of tasks, improving performance and efficiency, and provide a mechanism for handling conflicts or dependencies between tasks. Overall, DAGs are a powerful and efficient way to manage task execution in distributed computing systems.

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Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO), is a blockchain-based entity that operates without centralized control or management through smart contracts that automate decision-making processes and execute predefined actions in a transparent, decentralized, autonomous and efficient manner while enabling collaboration between participants from different locations worldwide without geographic boundaries limitations; however DAOs have limitations such as lack of legal recognition, technical complexity, vulnerability to attacks, and regulatory uncertainty. Real-world applications of DAOs include Decentralized Finance (DeFi), supply chain management, voting systems, and intellectual property management. As the technology evolves, DAOs are expected to become more widely adopted and integrated into various industries and contexts.

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A Decentralized Application (dApp) is a software application that runs on a decentralized network, such as a blockchain, rather than a single computer or server. Unlike traditional centralized applications, dApps are not controlled by any single entity or organization, making them more secure, transparent, and resilient. DApps can provide a range of services, including finance, gaming, social media, and more, and they often leverage blockchain technology to enable features such as smart contracts, decentralized storage, and cryptocurrency payments. Some popular dApps include CryptoKitties, Uniswap, and Golem Network.

Decentralized Finance (DeFi) is a financial ecosystem built on blockchain technology that eliminates the need for intermediaries such as banks, brokers, or other financial institutions. DeFi applications leverage smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement between buyer and seller being directly written into lines of code. This allows for more efficient, secure, and transparent financial services to be provided to users without the need for centralized authorities. DeFi encompasses a range of financial products and services, including lending, borrowing, trading, and insurance, all of which can be accessed through a decentralized platform.

DES, a symmetric-key encryption algorithm popular in the 1970s and 80s, uses a 56-bit key (originally 64 bits, with 8 reserved for parity) to encrypt and decrypt data. It consists of 16 rounds of transformation, each applying substitution and permutation operations using S-boxes generated by a key schedule process. DES is a block cipher operating on 64-bit blocks of plaintext to produce ciphertext blocks. While replaced by more secure algorithms like AES due to its shorter key length and susceptibility to brute-force attacks, DES remains useful for legacy systems and applications requiring compatibility with older encryption standards.

A decentralized exchange (DEX) is a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency trading platform that operates on a blockchain network without the need for a central authority or intermediary. DEXs allow users to trade cryptocurrencies directly with each other using smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement between buyer and seller being directly written into lines of code. This eliminates the need for a third party to hold funds or facilitate trades, making DEXs more secure and decentralized than centralized exchanges (CEXs). However, DEXs may have lower liquidity and trading volumes compared to CEXs due to the lack of centralized order books.

Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) is a consensus algorithm used in blockchain networks that combines the benefits of Proof of Stake (PoS) and Delegated Proof of Consensus (DPoC). In DPoS, token holders can delegate their voting rights to trusted delegates, who are responsible for securing the network and producing blocks. These delegates are selected through an election process based on the number of tokens staked by their supporters. DPoS offers high scalability, low energy consumption, and improved efficiency compared to traditional PoW networks like Bitcoin while minimizing centralization risks through delegates' election process based on token staking criteria like community membership duration or responsible behavior track record requirements to ensure network security. However, it's crucial to address potential drawbacks like colluding delegates' vulnerability and governance issues to maintain the network's long-term sustainability and security.

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Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) is a type of public-key cryptography that uses mathematical equations on elliptic curves over finite fields for key generation and cryptographic operations. It provides similar levels of security as traditional public-key cryptography like RSA and Diffie-Hellman but with shorter key lengths that make it more efficient and faster. ECC operates by generating a public key and a private key from a point on an elliptic curve; the private key is kept secret while the public key is shared for encryption and decryption purposes. The security of ECC is based on the difficulty of computing the discrete logarithm of a point on an elliptic curve which is harder than factoring large numbers in RSA. ECC has several advantages over traditional public-key cryptography such as shorter key lengths that make it more practical for certain applications, faster computations, greater resistance to side-channel attacks, and greater flexibility in key management and distribution. ECC is widely used in various applications such as web communications, IoT devices, mobile devices, and government and military applications.

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Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) a digital signature algorithm based on elliptic curves over finite fields, offers advantages over traditional algorithms like RSA and DSA due to smaller key sizes, faster computations, and greater flexibility in key management and security trade-offs. The algorithm consists of three main steps: key generation, signing, and verification. During key generation, a private key is generated from a random value and a corresponding public key is calculated using the elliptic curve group operation. During signing, the message to be signed is hashed to produce a fixed-size value called the message digest, and the private key is used to calculate a signature value that is appended to the message. During verification, the recipient uses the sender's public key to calculate the expected signature value from the message digest and compares it to the received signature value. ECDSA is widely used in various applications where security and efficiency are critical, such as digital signatures for email and documents, authentication for network devices, and secure communication in wireless networks.

Externally Owned Accounts (EOA), in the context of blockchain technology refers to digital wallets or addresses that are controlled by individual users or entities outside of the blockchain network itself. These accounts are not owned or controlled by the blockchain network or any other entity within it, but rather by the users who hold the private keys associated with these accounts. EOAs are the most common type of account used in popular blockchain networks like Ethereum and Bitcoin, as they provide users with full control and ownership over their digital assets.

Ethereum Request for Comments (ERC),  these tokens are designed and used in Ethereum platform. These tokens are created using smart contracts. After these tokens are created, these tokens are either transfered to other users accounts, self accounts or for exchange purposes.

The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) is a significant part of the Ethereum blockchain network as it executes smart contracts written in Solidity. Smart contracts are self-executing agreements that directly translate the terms of a deal between buyer and seller into code. The EVM interprets and executes these contracts, allowing for the creation of decentralized applications (dApps) on the Ethereum blockchain. The EVM is designed to be Turing-complete, which means it can execute any theoretically calculable computation, enabling the development of complex applications on the Ethereum blockchain using smart contracts. The EVM operates using a stack-based bytecode language called EVM bytecode, which is executed by an EVM instance running on each node in the Ethereum network, ensuring consistent and deterministic smart contract execution across all nodes, making the network secure and decentralized. In summary, the Ethereum Virtual Machine is a crucial component of the Ethereum blockchain network, facilitating smart contract execution and dApp development.

The Fischer-Lynch_Paterson (FLP) basically says that if all nodes run a deterministic algorithm, then consensus is impossible even when a single node can crash.

Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) is a pervasive feeling that arises from the belief that others are having rewarding experiences from which one is absent. It can be triggered by seeing others' posts on social media, hearing about exciting events, or simply observing others' activities. FOMO can lead to feelings of anxiety, inadequacy, and a sense of urgency to participate in similar experiences. It can also contribute to impulsive decision-making and overspending in an attempt to avoid missing out on opportunities. FOMO is a relatively new phenomenon that has emerged with the rise of social media and the constant stream of information and images that it provides.

Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (FUD) is a marketing strategy used to spread negative information or misinformation about a competitor's product or service in order to discredit it and make the buyer more likely to choose the company's own product or service instead. FUD is often used to exploit the natural human emotions of fear, uncertainty, and doubt, which can lead to irrational decision-making. It can take many forms, such as spreading false rumors, exaggerating risks, or making unfounded claims about the competition's product or service. FUD is considered an unethical marketing tactic by many industry experts and can damage the reputation of both the company using it and the targeted company.

The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) is an investment vehicle that provides exposure to bitcoin for accredited investors. It is operated by Grayscale Investments, a subsidiary of Digital Currency Group. GBTC operates as a trust, holding its assets in bitcoin, and then issues shares to investors.

The value of GBTC shares is tied to the price of bitcoin held by the trust, which makes it an indirect way for investors to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency market. However, it's essential to note that the shares are traded on an over-the-counter market, which may have wider spreads compared to buying bitcoin directly on a cryptocurrency exchange.

Warning: Investing in GBTC or any cryptocurrency comes with risks, including price volatility, regulatory changes, and security concerns. It is crucial to conduct thorough research, understand the risks involved, and consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Crypto Market Rate

HODL is a term commonly used in the cryptocurrency community that originated from a typo in a 2013 forum post. It means holding onto one's cryptocurrencies during periods of price volatility or market uncertainty, with the belief that their value will increase over time as the market matures and adoption grows. While some investors use HODL as a strategy to avoid short-term price fluctuations and focus on long-term growth potential, it's important to understand that the value of cryptocurrencies can be highly volatile and unpredictable, and thorough research and risk assessment are necessary before making any investment decisions.

Inter Planetary File System (IPFS), is a decentralized file storage system. The data is stored using Distributed Hash Table. 

Keyless Signature Infrastructure (KSI) is a cryptographic technology that enables the creation of a tamper-proof and auditable record of events or transactions. It provides a secure and transparent way to verify the authenticity and integrity of data without relying on traditional cryptographic keys or certificates for authentication purposes. Instead of using keys for authentication, KSI uses cryptographic hash functions applied iteratively over time stamps or events to create a unique digital fingerprint, which serves as a signature for each event or transaction in the system. This technology can be applied in various industries such as finance and healthcare for secure and transparent data management, auditing, and compliance.

Low Level List Language (LLL), is one of the original Ethereum programming language. As the name says, this is a a very simple and a minimalistic language, which is serving as a tiny wrapper of coding in EVM directory.

My Ether Wallet (MEW), is an open sourse, clien-slide interface for generating Ethereum accounts and for interacting with the Ethereum blockchain in a safe ans secure way. MEW don't store user keys or passwords on its server.

Member Service Provider (MSP), is a company or organization that provides services to members of a larger organization, such as a trade association, cooperative, or professional society. These services may include benefits, resources, and support that help members achieve their goals and objectives. MSPs typically operate under a contractual agreement with the larger organization and may receive a commission or fee for their services. Examples of MSP services may include insurance, financial services, training and development, marketing and communications, and technology solutions.

Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (PBFT) is a consensus algorithm designed to enable distributed systems to achieve consensus in the presence of Byzantine faults. PBFT uses a three-phase protocol consisting of prepare, commit, and decide phases, and its message format includes prepare, prepare acknowledgment, commit, and decide messages. PBFT's communication and computational overheads, tolerance of Byzantine faults, and consensus time are its strengths and weaknesses. PBFT's implementation is available in various programming languages, and it is suitable for distributed systems that require strong consistency and tolerate Byzantine faults. However, PBFT's communication and computational overheads, tolerance of Byzantine faults, and consensus time present challenges in large-scale distributed systems.

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Pump and dump (PnD) is a type of fraudulent scheme in the stock market where a group of individuals artificially inflates the price of a stock through false and misleading statements, rumors, or manipulative trading activities. The goal is to lure unsuspecting investors into buying the stock at an inflated price, and then the perpetrators quickly sell their own shares, causing the price to plummet, resulting in significant losses for the new investors. This practice is considered a form of securities fraud and is strictly prohibited by regulatory bodies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the United States.

Proof of Authority (POA) is a consensus algorithm used in blockchain networks that prioritizes security and performance over decentralization. In POA, a set of trusted nodes, also known as authorities, are pre-selected and authorized to validate transactions and add them to the blockchain. This eliminates the need for a competitive mining process, making the network faster and more efficient. The authorities are typically chosen based on their reputation, reliability, and other factors, ensuring that only trustworthy nodes participate in the consensus process. POA is commonly used in enterprise blockchain networks where security and performance are more important than decentralization.

Proof of Elapsed Time (PoET) is a consensus algorithm proposed by Intel for low-power environments like the Internet of Things (IoT). It uses a clock-based mechanism with a hardware random number generator (RNG) to generate a random number at each time step, making it more energy-efficient and suitable for resource-constrained devices than traditional proof-of-work algorithms. The PoET algorithm has low computational complexity, low energy consumption, and low latency, making it scalable and predictable. However, it also has challenges such as centralization, vulnerability, and implementation, which need to be addressed to ensure its security, fairness, and scalability. Overall, PoET shows promise as a consensus algorithm for low-power environments, and further research and development are needed to optimize it for different use cases.

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Proof of Stake (PoS) is an alternative consensus algorithm used in cryptocurrencies instead of the commonly used Proof of Work (PoW). In PoW, miners compete to solve complex mathematical problems to add transactions to the blockchain and earn rewards, requiring a lot of computing power and energy, making it expensive and environmentally unsustainable. In contrast, PoS selects validators based on the number of coins they have staked as collateral, who then verify transactions and add them to the blockchain. If validators act maliciously or make errors, they lose some or all of their staked coins as a penalty. PoS has advantages such as lower energy consumption, faster transaction processing, and higher security due to economic incentives for validators to act honestly. However, PoS also has drawbacks like the potential for centralization if a few wealthy users dominate the staking process and the risk of a "nothing at stake" attack if validators can earn rewards without contributing to the network. Overall, PoS is a promising alternative to PoW that addresses some shortcomings of traditional cryptocurrencies, but further research and development is necessary for its long-term viability and scalability.

Proof of Work (PoW) is a consensus algorithm commonly used in cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, to secure the network and add transactions to the blockchain. In PoW, miners compete to solve complex mathematical problems using computing power and energy, with the first miner to find a solution (also known as a "hash") earning the right to add the new block of transactions to the chain and receive a reward. This process is called mining. However, the high energy consumption and environmental impact of PoW have led to the development of alternative consensus algorithms, such as Proof of Stake (PoS).

Quarter 1 -  January to March

Quarter 2 - April to June

Quarter 3 - July to September

Quarter 4 - October to December

Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA ) algorithm, a popular public-key cryptography method, ensures secure communication over insecure networks. It is based on the challenging mathematical problem of factoring large composite numbers into their prime factors. The algorithm involves generating a pair of public and private keys through a key generation process that involves choosing two large prime numbers, multiplying them together to get the modulus, selecting an integer e with specific conditions, and calculating the private exponent d accordingly. Encryption occurs by using the public key to compute the ciphertext, which is then sent to the recipient for decryption using the private key due to the difficulty of factoring large composite numbers, making RSA a secure and widely used cryptographic algorithm.

Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA) is a cryptographic hash function designed by the United States National Security Agency (NSA) for use in the U.S. Government. SHA is used to generate a fixed-size message digest (or hash value) from any input data, making it a fundamental component of modern cryptography and data security. SHA has several variants, including SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-512, and SHA-384, each with different levels of security and hash output sizes. SHA is widely used in various applications such as digital signatures, password storage, and data integrity verification.

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State Machine Replication (SMR) is a technique for distributing databases that ensures consistency and reliability in distributed systems. Each node in the system maintains a local copy of the database, and a deterministic function called a state machine is used to ensure consistency. The state machine takes an input (a request) and produces an output (a response), which is applied to the local copy of the database. This ensures that all nodes' copies are consistent because the same input produces the same output, regardless of the node's state. SMR has several advantages over other replication techniques, including consistency, reliability, scalability, and low latency. It is commonly used in critical systems such as financial trading systems and cloud computing environments where scalability and low latency are essential.

Security Token Offering (STO) is a legal and compliant way for companies to raise funds through digital tokens that represent ownership in underlying assets. Unlike Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), which are often unregulated and risky, STOs are subject to securities laws, providing investors with greater protection and transparency. Some benefits of STOs include compliance with securities laws, increased investor protection, greater liquidity, reduced fraud risk, and enhanced transparency. As regulatory frameworks continue to evolve, we can expect to see more companies utilizing this innovative fundraising mechanism.

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Unspent Transaction Output (UTXO) set is being referred to as input to a transaction, it must be one of the unspent transactions, everything else can be stored in the disk. So you can actually cache this information from the blockchain and rest you do not really need to use that often to validate transactions.