Tokens & Tokenomics — Crypto Glossary
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 — and 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.
Altcoin Altcoin is crypto shorthand for any coin or token that isn't Bitcoin. Coin A coin is the native asset of its own blockchain — BTC on Bitcoin, ETH on Ethereum, SOL on Solana. Governance Token A governance token gives its holder voting rights in a protocol or DAO. Memecoin A memecoin is a cryptocurrency whose value derives almost entirely from community attention, cultural resonance, and speculative coordination — not from unde… NFT An NFT (non-fungible token) is a token whose each unit is unique and not interchangeable. Security Token A security token is a tokenized representation of a regulated security — equity, debt, or an investment contract — that explicitly complies with securities l… Token A token is a digital asset issued on an existing blockchain, represented by a smart contract. Token Burn A 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 Unlock A token unlock is the scheduled release of previously-locked tokens — typically to team members, early investors, or ecosystem funds — that increases the cir… Tokenomics Tokenomics is the study of a crypto token's economic design — supply schedule, distribution, utility, value accrual mechanisms. Utility Token A utility token grants access to a protocol's services — paying fees, using storage, accessing APIs, or unlocking features. Vesting Vesting is a schedule that restricts when tokens granted to team members, investors, or advisors become available to sell.