Tokens & Tokenomics
A crypto token is much more than 'a coin'. Tokens encode ownership, governance votes, access rights, utility inside a protocol, or all of the above. The specific design (supply cap, unlock schedule, burn mechanics, voting power) drives long-term value more than short-term price action does. These terms define the categories and the moving parts.
AltcoinAltcoin is crypto shorthand for any coin or token that isn't Bitcoin.CoinA coin is the native asset of its own blockchain — BTC on Bitcoin, ETH on Ethereum, SOL on Solana.Governance TokenA governance token gives its holder voting rights in a protocol or DAO.MemecoinA memecoin is a cryptocurrency whose value derives almost entirely from community attention, cultural resonance, and speculative coordination — not from unde…NFTAn NFT (non-fungible token) is a token whose each unit is unique and not interchangeable.Security TokenA security token is a tokenized representation of a regulated security — equity, debt, or an investment contract — that explicitly complies with securities l…TokenA token is a digital asset issued on an existing blockchain, represented by a smart contract.Token BurnA token burn permanently removes tokens from circulation by sending them to an address nobody can recover from (often the zero address) or by calling a dedic…Token UnlockA token unlock is the scheduled release of previously-locked tokens — typically to team members, early investors, or ecosystem funds — that increases the cir…TokenomicsTokenomics is the study of a crypto token's economic design — supply schedule, distribution, utility, value accrual mechanisms.Utility TokenA utility token grants access to a protocol's services — paying fees, using storage, accessing APIs, or unlocking features.VestingVesting is a schedule that restricts when tokens granted to team members, investors, or advisors become available to sell.