Understanding blockchain technology begins with mastering its foundational vocabulary. Whether you're diving into whitepapers, technical documentation, or developer forums, familiarity with key terms in English is essential for anyone serious about engaging with the decentralized ecosystem. This comprehensive glossary presents important blockchain-related terminology in both English and Chinese, helping readers build fluency and confidence when navigating global crypto discussions.
The following sections are organized alphabetically and formatted using clear Markdown headings for improved readability and SEO performance. Core keywords such as blockchain, cryptocurrency, smart contracts, consensus, decentralized, wallets, mining, and UTXO have been naturally integrated throughout to align with search intent while maintaining a professional yet accessible tone.
A – F: Foundational Concepts and Protocols
Account & Address Management
- Account: 账户
A digital identity used to send and receive cryptocurrency. - Account Level (Multi-Account Structure): 账户等级（多账户结构）
Refers to hierarchical account systems that allow users to manage multiple sub-accounts under one primary wallet. - Bitcoin Addresses vs.: 比特币地址与
Used to compare address formats, such as P2PKH vs. P2SH. - Vanity Addresses: 靓号地址
Custom-generated addresses that contain specific desired patterns (e.g., starting with “1Love”).
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Security & Cryptography
- Advanced Encryption Standard (AES): 高级加密标准(AES)
A widely adopted encryption protocol used to protect sensitive data. - ECDSA (Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm): 椭圆曲线数字签名算法保障
The cryptographic method used by Bitcoin and many blockchains to sign transactions securely. - Base58Check Encoding: Base58Check编码
A binary-to-text encoding format used to represent Bitcoin addresses and private keys in a human-readable and error-resistant way. - Hardware Security Modules (HSM): 硬件安全模块
Physical devices designed to safeguard and manage digital keys.
Consensus Mechanisms
- Proof of Work (PoW): 工作量证明
A consensus algorithm where miners compete to solve complex mathematical puzzles to validate blocks. - Proof of Stake (PoS): 权益证明
An alternative to PoW where validators are chosen based on the number of coins they hold and are willing to "stake." - Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS): 授权股权证明机制
A variation of PoS where stakeholders vote for delegates who validate transactions on their behalf. - Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT): 拜占庭容错
A system’s ability to function correctly even if some nodes fail or act maliciously.
Network & Node Types
- Full Nodes: 完整节点;全节点
Participants that download the entire blockchain and independently verify all transactions. - SPV Nodes (Simplified Payment Verification): 简易支付验证（SPV）节点
Lightweight clients that verify transactions without downloading the full blockchain. - Seed Nodes: 种子节点
Initial connection points that help new nodes discover peers on the network.
G – M: Transactions, Mining, and Data Structures
Mining & Block Production
- Mining: 挖矿
The process of validating transactions and adding them to the blockchain through computational work. - Mining Pools: 矿池
Groups of miners who combine their computing power to increase the chances of earning block rewards. - Halving: 减半
An event in Bitcoin’s protocol that reduces miner rewards by 50% approximately every four years. - Block Generation Rate: 出块速度
The average time it takes for a new block to be added to the chain (e.g., ~10 minutes for Bitcoin).
Transaction Mechanics
- Transaction Fees: 交易费；矿工费
Incentives paid by users to have their transactions prioritized by miners. - Unspent Transaction Outputs (UTXOs): 未交易输出
Fundamental units in Bitcoin’s transaction model representing available funds. - Coinbase Transaction: coinbase交易
The first transaction in a block that rewards the miner with newly minted coins and fees.
Blockchain Structure
- Block Header Hash: 区块头散列值
A unique fingerprint of a block’s header, used in linking blocks together. - Merkle Tree: 二进制的哈希树或者二叉哈希树
A data structure that efficiently summarizes all transactions in a block. - Genesis Block: 创始区块
The very first block in any blockchain, hardcoded into the system.
N – Z: Advanced Features and Ecosystem Terms
Wallet Technologies
- Deterministic Wallets: 确定性钱包
Wallets that generate keys from a single seed phrase, allowing easy backup and recovery. - HD Wallet System: 分层确定性钱包系统
An advanced form of deterministic wallets supporting hierarchical key derivation. - Cold-Storage Wallets: 冷钱包
Offline wallets that store private keys away from internet-connected devices for enhanced security.
Smart Contracts & Platforms
- Smart Contracts: 智能合约
Self-executing agreements written in code, running on platforms like Ethereum. - Ethereum: 以太坊
A decentralized platform enabling programmable contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). - Turing Complete: 图灵完备
A system capable of performing any computation given enough resources—applies to Ethereum’s virtual machine.
Scalability & Layer-Two Solutions
- Lightning Network: 闪电网络
A second-layer solution enabling fast, low-cost payments off-chain. - Segregated Witness (SegWit): 隔离见证
A protocol upgrade that increases block capacity by separating signature data from transaction data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between a public and private blockchain?
A: A public blockchain (like Bitcoin or Ethereum) is open to anyone and fully decentralized. A private blockchain restricts participation to authorized entities, often used in enterprise settings.
Q: How does consensus work in blockchain?
A: Consensus ensures all nodes agree on the state of the ledger. Mechanisms like Proof of Work and Proof of Stake prevent fraud and maintain network integrity.
Q: What is a UTXO?
A: UTXO stands for Unspent Transaction Output. It represents the amount of cryptocurrency left after a transaction, which can be used as input for future transactions.
Q: Why are private keys so important?
A: Private keys grant ownership and control over cryptocurrency. Losing them means losing access to funds—there’s no recovery option.
Q: Can blockchain be altered once data is recorded?
A: No. One of blockchain’s core features is immutability—once data is confirmed and added, it cannot be changed without consensus.
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Final Thoughts
Mastering blockchain terminology is not just about memorizing definitions—it's about understanding how these concepts interact within a larger technological ecosystem. From consensus algorithms to cryptographic primitives, each term plays a role in building trustless, transparent, and secure digital systems.
Whether you're a developer, investor, or enthusiast, this glossary serves as a reliable reference point for navigating the evolving world of decentralized technologies. As innovation continues—especially in areas like zero-knowledge proofs, cross-chain interoperability, and decentralized identity—staying fluent in the language will remain crucial.
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