Cryptocurrency Basics
Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency is a digitally native asset recorded on a distributed ledger and transferred with cryptographic keys rather than a traditional bank instruction.
Read full definitionGlossary topic
Crypto Refunds & Consumer Protection Glossary
Independent definitions for cryptocurrency, wallets and keys, transactions, DeFi, stablecoins, crypto scams, refunds, consumer protection, recovery scams, and crypto regulation — not trading advice and not a request for seed phrases or private keys.
ShouldEye explains cryptocurrency refunds, custodial returns, and consumer-protection vocabulary in plain language—including where on-chain transfers usually cannot be reversed and which scam patterns follow a loss.
Educational information only. ShouldEye does not provide legal, banking, or individualized financial advice. Dispute rights, deadlines, and outcomes depend on your payment method, card network, issuer, processor, jurisdiction, and the facts of your case. Legal Disclaimers
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Choose a pathway to see related definitions. This is educational decision support—not recovery, legal, tax, or investment advice. ShouldEye never asks for seed phrases or private keys.
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Crypto Wallets and Keys
Seed Phrase
A seed phrase is a human-readable backup of wallet keys — usually 12 or 24 words — that can recreate control of the wallet.
Read full definitionCrypto Scams
Wallet Drainer
A wallet drainer is malicious code or a phishing flow that tricks you into signing approvals or transactions that empty wallet assets.
Read full definitionCrypto Scams
Rug Pull
A rug pull is a fraudulent crypto project that attracts deposits or liquidity, then abruptly removes funds or abandons the project.
Read full definitionCrypto Scams
Relationship Investment Scam
A relationship investment scam builds trust through romance or friendship, then steers victims into fake crypto trading or investment platforms.
Read full definitionCrypto Scams
Crypto Recovery Scam
A crypto recovery scam is a secondary fraud that promises to retrieve stolen or lost cryptocurrency for upfront fees or seed access.
Read full definitionCrypto Refunds
Crypto Refund
A crypto refund is a return of cryptocurrency value by a custodial platform, merchant, or issuer — not an automatic reverse of a confirmed blockchain transfer.
Read full definitionCrypto Consumer Protection
Crypto Consumer Protection
Crypto consumer protection is the set of disclosures, complaint paths, and limited remedies that may apply when people buy, hold, or send cryptocurrency.
Read full definitionCrypto Security
Valid Wallet Address
A valid wallet address is a string that passes format and checksum rules for a network — not proof the recipient is the intended or honest party.
Read full definitionDeFi
Decentralized Finance
Decentralized finance (DeFi) refers to financial-like services delivered via smart contracts instead of a single traditional intermediary UI.
Read full definition1110 published definitions in this topic
- 2FA App Preferable2FA App Preferable is preferring app-based or hardware 2FA over SMS for exchange accounts.
- Accelerator ServiceAccelerator Service is a third-party service claiming to speed confirmation — verify legitimacy and never share seeds.
- Access Control RoleAccess Control Role is permissions such as minter or pauser assigned to addresses in a contract.
- Account Abstraction WalletAccount Abstraction Wallet is a wallet model that uses smart-contract accounts for flexible auth and recovery designs.
- Account Balance ModelAccount Balance Model is a ledger design that tracks balances per account rather than individual unspent outputs.
- Account Breach Alert ScamAccount Breach Alert Scam is alerts claiming your wallet is breached and must be “secured” via a drainer link.
- Account FreezeAccount Freeze is a platform restriction that blocks withdrawals or trading pending review.
- Account Manager Crypto ScamAccount Manager Crypto Scam is assigned “managers” who coach victims through fraudulent platforms.
- Address BookAddress Book is saved recipient labels in a wallet UI; labels can be wrong if poisoned or mistyped.
- Address Book PoisonAddress Book Poison is tricking users into saving attacker addresses under trusted labels.
- Address PoisoningAddress poisoning is a scam that dusts your wallet with lookalike addresses so you might copy the wrong recipient from history.
- Address ReuseAddress Reuse is receiving multiple times to one address, which can reduce privacy and simplify tracking.
- Admin KeyAdmin Key is privileged keys that can upgrade, pause, mint, or seize depending on contract design.
- Advance Fee Crypto ScamAdvance Fee Crypto Scam is demanding more crypto to unlock withdrawals, taxes, or “compliance releases”.
- Advice Regulation CryptoAdvice Regulation Crypto is when recommendations about crypto-assets become regulated advice.
- AirdropAirdrop is a distribution of tokens to addresses, frequently abused by phishing claim sites.
- Airdrop Connect DrainAirdrop Connect Drain is “claim” buttons that only request a wallet connect then a drain signature.
- Airdrop ScamAn airdrop scam uses fake free-token or free-NFT claims to lure wallet connects, approvals, or seed entry.
- Airdrop TaxAirdrop Tax is possible tax consequences when receiving airdropped tokens.
- Algorithmic StablecoinAlgorithmic Stablecoin is a design relying on market mechanisms or companion tokens rather than full fiat reserves.
- AllocationAllocation is how newly created supply is divided among teams, investors, liquidity, and community.
- Allowlist MintAllowlist Mint is a mint restricted to approved addresses, sometimes farmed or phished.
- Allowlist Spend PolicyAllowlist Spend Policy is wallet rules permitting sends only to known addresses.
- Ancestor FeeAncestor Fee is fee accounting that considers a transaction together with its unconfirmed ancestors.
- Anonymity ClaimAnonymity Claim is a statement that activity cannot be linked to a person; many so-called anonymous flows are still analyzable.
- Anti-Bot Code AbuseAnti-Bot Code Abuse is “anti-bot” functions used selectively to block ordinary sellers.
- Anti-Money Laundering CryptoAnti-Money Laundering Crypto is controls aimed at detecting and preventing money laundering through virtual assets.
- Anti-Money Laundering Fee ScamAnti-Money Laundering Fee Scam is demanding AML clearance payments in crypto to unlock withdrawals.
- API Key Leak DrainAPI Key Leak Drain is stolen exchange API keys used to trade or withdraw assets.
- API Trading KeyAPI Trading Key is credentials allowing software to trade on your behalf — treat like passwords.
- App Store Wallet CloneApp Store Wallet Clone is lookalike wallet apps published to steal funds after import.
- Approval PhishingApproval phishing tricks users into granting token or NFT spender permissions that later drain assets.
- Approve TransactionApprove Transaction is a transaction granting a spender allowance over your tokens.
- APR ClaimAPR Claim is an advertised simple rate of return that is not a guarantee of future results.
- APY ClaimAPY Claim is an advertised annualized yield figure that may be unsustainable or fabricated.
- Archive NodeArchive Node is a node retaining historical state needed for deep historical queries.
- Asset IssuanceAsset Issuance is creation of new coins or tokens under protocol or contract rules.
- Asset-Referenced TokenAsset-Referenced Token is an EU MiCA category for tokens referencing assets other than a single official currency in the EMT sense.
- Atomic SwapAtomic Swap is a cross-asset exchange designed to succeed or fail together using cryptographic locks.
- Audit Badge SpoofAudit Badge Spoof is displaying fake audit logos on scam token sites.
- Authority Bias Crypto ScamAuthority Bias Crypto Scam is using uniforms, badges, or official-looking portals to coerce crypto payments.
- Automated Market MakerAutomated Market Maker is a DEX design that prices trades with pool formulas instead of a classic order book.
- Bad DebtBad Debt is unbacked liabilities left after liquidations fail to cover loans.
- Balance OfBalance Of is the standard read method returning a token balance for an address.
- Base CurrencyBase Currency is the asset being bought or sold in a trading pair.
- Base FeeBase Fee is a protocol-calculated fee component burned or required on some EIP-1559 style networks.
- Base58 AddressBase58 Address is a legacy-style address encoding still seen on some networks and explorers.
- Batch TransactionBatch Transaction is a single transaction that performs multiple transfers or calls.
- Bech32 AddressBech32 Address is an address format used by some networks for SegWit and newer outputs.
- Beneficial Ownership CryptoBeneficial Ownership Crypto is identifying natural persons who ultimately own or control crypto accounts or companies.
- Beneficiary InformationBeneficiary Information is recipient identity data accompanying Travel Rule messages.
- BGP or Hosting Hijack RiskBGP or Hosting Hijack Risk is infrastructure attacks that serve malicious wallet frontends.
- Bid Spam NFTBid Spam NFT is spam bids used to lure sellers into phishing accept flows.
- BIP32BIP32 is a standard for hierarchical deterministic key derivation from a master seed.
- BIP39BIP39 is a common standard for mnemonic seed phrases and wordlists used by many wallets.
- BIP44BIP44 is a multi-account derivation path convention built on BIP32.
- Bitcoin Improvement ProposalBitcoin Improvement Proposal is a design document process for proposing Bitcoin protocol or process changes.
- Bitcoin NetworkBitcoin Network is the Bitcoin blockchain and peer network as an educational example of a proof-of-work cryptocurrency system.
- Blacklist FunctionBlacklist Function is contract logic that prevents listed addresses from transferring tokens.
- Blacklist Removal ScamBlacklist Removal Scam is charging to remove a nonexistent on-chain blacklist.