Crypto & IPO Glossary
Master the language of investing. From blockchain basics to advanced tokenomics, learn the terms you need to navigate the pre-IPO landscape.
A
C
Cap Table
A spreadsheet showing who owns what percentage of a company - the document that reveals how much your shares might really be worth.
ipo marketsCliff Period
The initial waiting period before any tokens unlock - your protection against team members cashing out and disappearing on day one.
tokenomicsCirculating Supply
The number of tokens currently available for trading - the supply that actually affects price, not tokens locked in vesting or reserves.
tokenomicsCrypto Presale
An early token sale before public launch - the opportunity to buy at the lowest price, but also the highest risk of scams and failures.
tradingD
Direct Listing
An alternative to IPOs where existing shares are sold directly to the public without underwriters - no new shares, no lockups, no middlemen.
ipo marketsDue Diligence
The research process before investing - examining financials, team, market, and risks to avoid putting money into a disaster.
investingDeflationary Token
A token designed to decrease in supply over time through burns - creating scarcity that could increase value for holders.
tokenomicsE
G
I
IPO
An Initial Public Offering is when a private company sells shares to the public for the first time, allowing anyone to invest.
ipo marketsICO
Initial Coin Offering - the 2017 fundraising craze where projects sold tokens directly to the public, raising billions before regulations caught up.
tradingIDO
Initial DEX Offering - a token launch on decentralized exchanges, providing immediate liquidity without centralized exchange gatekeepers.
tradingL
Lock-up Period
The time after an IPO when insiders can't sell their shares - usually 90-180 days. When it ends, watch out for selling pressure.
ipo marketsLiquidity Pool
A pool of tokens locked in a smart contract that enables decentralized trading - no order books, no middlemen, just math and code.
defiM
P
Private Placement
A direct sale of securities to select investors without a public offering - how companies raise capital without the hassle of going public.
ipo marketsPre-IPO Investing
Buying shares in private companies before they go public - the strategy that made early investors in Uber, Airbnb, and SpaceX millionaires.
investingS
SPAC
A Special Purpose Acquisition Company raises money through an IPO to acquire a private company - a backdoor to going public without a traditional IPO.
ipo marketsSecondary Markets
Platforms where you can buy and sell pre-IPO shares from existing shareholders - your liquidity lifeline before a company goes public.
investingSPV
A Special Purpose Vehicle pools money from multiple investors to meet minimums for pre-IPO deals - your ticket to the table when you can't buy a whole seat.
investingSmart Contract
Self-executing code on a blockchain that automatically enforces agreements - no lawyers, no middlemen, just code that runs exactly as written.
blockchainT
Tokenomics
The economic design of a cryptocurrency - how tokens are created, distributed, and what makes them valuable (or worthless).
tokenomicsToken Burn
Permanently destroying tokens to reduce supply - a deflationary mechanism that can increase value for remaining holders.
tokenomicsToken Allocation
How tokens are distributed among team, investors, community, and reserves - the pie chart that shows who really benefits.
tokenomicsToken Generation Event
The moment when tokens are created and distributed - when your investment transforms from a promise into actual blockchain assets.
tradingU
Unicorn Startup
A privately held startup valued at $1 billion or more - once rare, now there are 1,200+ globally, but most retail investors can't access them.
ipo marketsUtility Token
A token that provides access to a product or service - not an investment security, but a functional key to an ecosystem.
blockchain
