Glossary

Tokenization Terms & Definitions

Your comprehensive guide to understanding the terminology and concepts in digital asset tokenization, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance.

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AML (Anti-Money Laundering)

Compliance

A set of laws, regulations, and procedures designed to prevent criminals from disguising illegally obtained funds as legitimate income.

Example:

Monitoring transaction patterns to detect suspicious activity in token transfers.

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Asset Tokenization

Core Concepts

The process of converting rights to an asset into a digital token on a blockchain. This enables fractional ownership, improved liquidity, and global accessibility for traditionally illiquid assets.

Example:

Real estate properties, art collections, or private equity shares converted into blockchain tokens.

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Custody

Security

The safekeeping and administration of assets on behalf of clients, including the management of private keys for digital assets.

Example:

A qualified custodian holding the private keys for institutional investors' tokenized assets.

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DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization)

Governance

An organization governed by smart contracts and token holders rather than traditional management structures, enabling decentralized decision-making.

Example:

Token holders voting on protocol upgrades or treasury allocation decisions.

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DeFi (Decentralized Finance)

Technology

A blockchain-based financial ecosystem that operates without traditional intermediaries like banks, using smart contracts to provide financial services.

Example:

Lending platforms, automated market makers, and yield farming protocols.

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Fractional Ownership

Core Concepts

A method of ownership where multiple parties can own shares of an expensive asset, making it more accessible to individual investors.

Example:

Owning 1% of a $10 million commercial property through tokens worth $100,000.

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Gas Fee

Technology

The fee required to execute a transaction or smart contract on a blockchain network, paid to compensate network validators.

Example:

Paying $20 in ETH to execute a token transfer on the Ethereum network.

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Governance Token

Token Types

A token that grants holders the right to vote on protocol changes, parameter adjustments, or other governance decisions within a decentralized system.

Example:

UNI tokens allowing holders to vote on Uniswap protocol improvements.

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Interoperability

Technology

The ability of different blockchain networks and protocols to communicate and work together, enabling seamless asset transfers and data sharing.

Example:

Moving tokens from Ethereum to Polygon network while maintaining their properties.

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KYC (Know Your Customer)

Compliance

A regulatory requirement for financial institutions to verify the identity of their clients and assess potential risks of illegal intentions for the business relationship.

Example:

Requiring government-issued ID and proof of address before allowing investment in tokenized assets.

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Layer 2

Technology

Secondary frameworks or protocols built on top of existing blockchain networks to improve scalability and reduce transaction costs.

Example:

Polygon, Arbitrum, or Optimism networks for faster and cheaper transactions.

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Liquidity

Finance

The ease with which an asset can be converted into cash or traded in the market without affecting its price significantly.

Example:

Being able to sell tokenized real estate shares quickly on a digital exchange.

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Multi-Signature (Multisig)

Security

A security feature that requires multiple private keys to authorize a cryptocurrency transaction, providing enhanced security for digital asset management.

Example:

Requiring 3 out of 5 board members to sign off on large token transfers.

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Oracle

Technology

A service that provides external data to blockchain networks, enabling smart contracts to access real-world information.

Example:

Chainlink oracles providing real estate price data to tokenization smart contracts.

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Security Token

Token Types

A digital token that represents ownership of an underlying asset and is subject to securities regulations. Security tokens provide holders with rights such as equity, dividends, or profit sharing.

Example:

Tokenized shares of a real estate investment trust (REIT) or equity tokens representing company shares.

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Slippage

Trading

The difference between the expected price of a trade and the actual executed price, typically occurring in volatile or low-liquidity markets.

Example:

Expecting to sell at $100 but actually selling at $98 due to market conditions.

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Smart Contract

Technology

Self-executing contracts with terms directly written into code on a blockchain. Smart contracts automatically execute when predetermined conditions are met, without requiring intermediaries.

Example:

A contract that automatically distributes dividend payments to token holders quarterly.

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Stablecoin

Token Types

A cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value relative to a reference asset, typically fiat currency like the US Dollar.

Example:

USDC, USDT, or DAI used for payments and as a store of value in DeFi applications.

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Whitelist

Compliance

A list of approved participants who are authorized to participate in a token sale or access certain features of a platform.

Example:

Only allowing accredited investors on a whitelist to purchase security tokens.

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Yield Farming

DeFi

A DeFi practice where users stake or lend their crypto assets to generate high returns or rewards in the form of additional cryptocurrency.

Example:

Providing liquidity to a decentralized exchange to earn trading fees and governance tokens.

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