Cryptonomen
Digital Asset Glossary
Understand the language of digital assets and why each term matters to an investigation.
Wallet
Software or a device used to interact with digital assets and manage signing credentials. An exchange account and a self-controlled wallet have different records and control arrangements.
Knowing the wallet type helps identify which public records and platform statements are relevant.
Public address
An identifier used by a network for account or destination information. Address formats vary across networks.
Provide the exact address and network when available. An address alone is not a verified personal identity.
Transaction hash
A network identifier for a recorded transaction, often used to find its details in a block explorer.
It helps locate the relevant transaction. Include the network because records belong to a particular chain.
Blockchain
A system of linked records maintained according to the rules of its network. Different networks have different capabilities and data.
An investigation identifies the relevant network and the records it can actually provide.
Block explorer
A service that presents records from a blockchain in a readable interface.
It can help locate public transaction information, but labels and interpretations should be checked in context.
Custody
The arrangement determining who controls the credentials used to authorise asset movements.
A platform-held account may require information from that platform beyond what a public chain shows.
Private key
Secret signing material used to authorise actions for a blockchain account.
Never send it to Cryptonomen or anyone offering to investigate a loss.
Seed phrase
A secret recovery phrase used by many wallets to restore signing credentials.
Do not submit it as evidence. Keep it out of screenshots, documents and messages.
Bridge
A system that enables assets or messages to move between blockchain environments. Designs and trust assumptions differ.
A cross-network analysis needs records from the systems actually involved rather than an assumed continuous transfer.
Exchange
A service or protocol used to trade assets. Hosted exchanges and decentralised exchanges operate differently.
Identify the exact service, website and account records without assuming a brand name proves the operator.
DeFi
Decentralised finance, a broad term for financial applications using blockchain protocols and smart contracts.
The specific protocol and transaction matter more than the general label.
Smart contract
Code deployed to a blockchain that executes according to that network and the contract design.
Understanding the relevant function and interaction can help explain what a transaction did.
Token approval
Permission recorded by some token systems allowing a contract or spender to transfer assets within specified rules.
An approval is distinct from a transfer. Relevant transaction details need careful review.
Stablecoin
A cryptoasset designed to track a reference value, commonly a currency. Designs and risks vary.
Record the exact token, contract and network rather than relying only on a ticker.
Attribution
An analytical connection between recorded activity and an identified entity. Its strength depends on supporting evidence.
A transaction observation and a claim about who controlled a wallet must be distinguished.
File hash
A calculated digest used to compare file bytes and detect changes.
Matching digests can support integrity checks; a digest does not prove that a document is truthful.
Provenance
The recorded origin and handling history of information or evidence.
Keep original records and explain where each item came from.
Restitution
The actual return of money or assets under the circumstances and applicable process.
Tracing findings, legal action and returned funds are distinct stages.
Further reading
Technical background: Ethereum glossary. Terms here explain investigative context and do not replace the documentation for a particular network or protocol. Never share signing credentials.