Bitcoin glossary.
Understand the words behind Bitcoin—not just the shorthand. Every definition opens into a complete, sourced explanation with an example you can actually use.
Five terms unlock most Bitcoin conversations.
Learn the asset, the ledger, the rules, the ownership model, and the unit before moving into deeper topics.
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Bitcoin
An open monetary network and the scarce digital unit accounted for by that network.
Open full explanation → NetworkBlock
A validated batch of transactions linked to the block before it.
Open full explanation → NetworkBlock chain
Bitcoin's ordered, proof-of-work-protected record of blocks.
Open full explanation → NetworkBlock height
The number of blocks before a block, starting with the genesis block at height zero.
Open full explanation → MiningBlock reward
The block subsidy plus transaction fees a miner may claim from a valid block.
Open full explanation → MiningBlock subsidy
New bitcoin a valid block is allowed to create under the issuance schedule.
Open full explanation →C
Cold storage
A custody setup that keeps spending keys away from internet-connected systems.
Open full explanation → TransactionsConfirmation
Evidence that a transaction is in an accepted block, with depth added by later blocks.
Open full explanation → NetworkConsensus rules
The objective validation rules nodes use to accept or reject transactions and blocks.
Open full explanation → WalletsCustodial wallet
A service balance where another party controls the keys used to move the bitcoin.
Open full explanation →D
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Halving
The programmed 50% reduction in Bitcoin's block subsidy every 210,000 blocks.
Open full explanation → NetworkHard fork
A rule change that can accept blocks older software would reject.
Open full explanation → WalletsHardware wallet
A dedicated device that keeps private keys isolated while signing transactions.
Open full explanation → NetworkHash
A fixed-size fingerprint produced by running data through a hash function.
Open full explanation → MiningHash rate
The rate at which mining hardware attempts proof-of-work hashes.
Open full explanation →L
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Mempool
A node's local collection of valid, unconfirmed transactions.
Open full explanation → MiningMiner
A person or system that builds candidate blocks and searches for valid proof of work.
Open full explanation → MiningMining pool
A service that combines miners' work to reduce the variance of payouts.
Open full explanation → WalletsMultisignature
A spending policy requiring more than one approved key.
Open full explanation →N
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Private key
Secret numeric material used to authorize spending under a corresponding public key.
Open full explanation → MiningProof of work
Verifiable computational work that orders valid Bitcoin history.
Open full explanation → WalletsPublic key
Cryptographic data used to verify a signature made by its private key.
Open full explanation →R
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Satoshi (sat)
The smallest standard unit of bitcoin: 0.00000001 BTC.
Open full explanation → WalletsSeed phrase
A human-readable backup used by many wallets to derive a deterministic set of keys.
Open full explanation → TransactionsSegregated Witness (SegWit)
A Bitcoin upgrade that separates signature data and introduced block weight accounting.
Open full explanation → WalletsSelf-custody
Direct control of the keys required to spend your bitcoin.
Open full explanation → NetworkSoft fork
A backward-compatible tightening of consensus rules for non-upgraded nodes.
Open full explanation →T
Taproot
A Bitcoin upgrade combining Schnorr signatures with new script commitments and spending rules.
Open full explanation → TransactionsTransaction
A signed data structure that spends existing outputs and creates new ones.
Open full explanation → TransactionsTransaction fee
The input value not assigned to outputs, available to the block's miner.
Open full explanation → TransactionsTransaction ID (TXID)
A hash-based identifier for a serialized Bitcoin transaction.
Open full explanation →U
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Definitions built for understanding.
Each page separates the protocol fact from the practical meaning. Technical entries point to Bitcoin developer documentation or the relevant Bitcoin Improvement Proposal.