Avalanche is a smart contract platform that achieves high throughput through a novel Avalanche consensus mechanism. It supports custom blockchains called Subnets, making it attractive for enterprise and gaming. Its C-Chain is EVM-compatible, allowing Ethereum dApps to deploy easily.
Ethereum is the leading smart contract platform. It allows developers to build decentralised applications (dApps) and enabled the explosion of DeFi, NFTs, and token issuance. Transitioned from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake in 2022.
Solana is a high-performance Layer 1 blockchain capable of processing up to 65,000 transactions per second using a novel Proof of History consensus mechanism. It has become a major hub for DeFi, NFTs, and consumer crypto applications.
Uniswap is the world's leading decentralised exchange (DEX), built on Ethereum. It pioneered the Automated Market Maker (AMM) model, replacing order books with liquidity pools. Anyone can provide liquidity and earn fees, or swap any ERC-20 token without creating an account.
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a stable value, typically pegged to the US dollar. They exist in three main types: fiat-backed (USDT, USDC), crypto-backed (DAI), and algorithmic — the latter having a catastrophic track record including the $40B Terra collapse.
Chainlink is the leading decentralised oracle network, providing smart contracts with secure access to real-world data, APIs, and external computation. It is the essential infrastructure layer connecting blockchains to off-chain information such as stock prices, weather data, and sports results.
Smart contracts are self-executing programs stored on a blockchain that automatically enforce the terms of an agreement when predefined conditions are met. They are the foundation of DeFi, NFTs, and decentralised autonomous organisations.
Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) is an ERC-20 token on Ethereum representing Bitcoin at a 1:1 ratio. Each WBTC is backed by real Bitcoin held in custody by BitGo. It enables Bitcoin holders to participate in Ethereum's DeFi ecosystem without selling their BTC.
A decentralised exchange (DEX) allows users to trade cryptocurrencies directly from their wallets using smart contracts, with no central intermediary and without giving up custody of funds. Automated Market Makers replaced traditional order books with liquidity pools.
DeFi refers to a suite of financial services — lending, borrowing, trading, yield generation — built on public blockchains, primarily Ethereum. It aims to replicate and disintermediate traditional finance without banks or intermediaries. At its peak in 2021, over $180 billion was locked in DeFi protocols.
MetaMask is the world's most popular Ethereum wallet, available as a browser extension and mobile app. It allows users to interact with decentralised applications directly from their browser, store Ethereum and ERC-20 tokens, and sign transactions. With over 30 million monthly active users, it is the primary gateway to Web3.
Solidity is the primary programming language for writing Ethereum smart contracts. It is a statically-typed, contract-oriented language with syntax influenced by JavaScript and C++. It powers virtually all DeFi protocols, NFT contracts, and DAOs on Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains.
A Decentralised Autonomous Organisation (DAO) is an organisation governed by code rather than traditional management hierarchies. Members hold governance tokens and vote on proposals — from treasury spending to protocol changes. DAOs manage billions in assets across DeFi, investment, and protocol governance.
Terra was an algorithmic stablecoin protocol that spectacularly collapsed in May 2022, wiping out approximately $40 billion in value within days. Its UST stablecoin lost its peg and LUNA became worthless, triggering contagion across the entire crypto market.