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Kvarn X Academy · Glossary

Investing
glossary

More than 110 terms in plain language, from the basics and crypto to instruments, market structure and taxation. Search for a term or scroll down: one term at a time.

117 terms
YouTube video · in FinnishThe most important investing terms: from stocks to crypto-assets

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Basics01 / 117

ShareIn Finnish: Osake

A piece of a company. When you buy a share, you own part of the company and take part in its success (and its failures).

Key point

One share = all the risk in one company. That's why diversification is the next step.

Basics02 / 117

ETFIn Finnish: ETF

A ready-made shopping basket. With one purchase you get a slice of hundreds of companies. Diversification comes automatically, and the costs are often a fraction of an active fund's.

Key point

When the fee is 0.1%, it doesn't eat away your return over the decades, unlike 1.5%.

Basics03 / 117

DiversificationIn Finnish: Hajauttaminen

Don't put all your eggs in one basket. When the risk is spread across many companies and countries, one failure doesn't bring down your whole portfolio.

Key point

Diversification doesn't remove risk. It spreads it across many companies and countries.

Basics04 / 117

InterestIn Finnish: Korko

Payment for lending. When you buy a bond, you lend money to a government or a company and receive interest, and you get your capital back on the maturity date.

Key point

Interest is the price of time and risk. There's no free lunch.

Basics05 / 117

DurationIn Finnish: Duraatio

A measure of interest rate sensitivity. Think of a seesaw: the longer the bond, the more sharply its price swings when interest rates move.

Key point

Rates up → long bond prices down. The longer the bond, the sharper the swing.

Basics06 / 117

InflationIn Finnish: Inflaatio

The slow erosion of money's purchasing power. The same hundred euros buys less next year, which is why cash alone loses value over time.

Key point

Inflation is a silent tax on savings. Your return has to beat it.

Basics07 / 117

IndexIn Finnish: Indeksi

The market's yardstick. For example, the S&P 500 tracks the 500 largest US companies, and an index fund simply copies it.

Key point

Instead of betting on a single winner, you own the whole group. Few active funds beat a low-cost index over the long term.

Basics08 / 117

DividendIn Finnish: Osinko

The share of profit a company pays out to its owners. You can take it as cash or reinvest it right away to speed up growth.

Key point

The share price drops by the amount of the dividend on the ex-dividend date. Total return is what counts, not the dividend alone.

Basics09 / 117

VolatilityIn Finnish: Volatiliteetti

How much the price swings. The more the price bounces up and down, the higher the volatility, and the stronger your nerves need to be.

Key point

Swings are not the same as losses, unless you sell in a panic at the bottom. A long time horizon is the best medicine.

Basics10 / 117

CompoundingIn Finnish: Korkoa korolle

Returns on returns. When your returns stay invested and keep growing, money makes money, and over decades the effect is explosive.

Key point

The most important variable isn't the amount but time. Start early.

Basics11 / 117

LiquidityIn Finnish: Likviditeetti

How easily an investment can be turned into cash without the price suffering. A listed share is liquid; a plot of forest is not.

Key point

Liquid = you can get out quickly at a fair price. For anything illiquid, demand an extra return.

Basics12 / 117

Risk and returnIn Finnish: Riski & tuotto

Two sides of the same coin. A higher expected return always means higher risk. There's no shortcut.

Key point

Return is compensation for the risk you take. A high return with no risk is a scam.

Crypto13 / 117

BlockchainIn Finnish: Lohkoketju

A shared, public ledger that no one owns alone. Every transaction can be verified, and no single party can change it.

Key point

A shared ledger that no one owns alone or can change alone.

Crypto14 / 117

BitcoinIn Finnish: Bitcoin

The first and largest crypto-asset. Its supply is capped in the code at 21 million. Scarcity is built in: no one can “print” more.

Key point

Supply is capped in the code at 21 million. Scarcity is built in.

Crypto15 / 117

Wallet and keysIn Finnish: Lompakko & avaimet

A crypto wallet doesn't hold coins; it holds private keys. “Who holds the keys” is as important a question as the price.

Key point

Not your keys, not your coins. Who holds the keys is as important a question as the price.

Crypto16 / 117

StablecoinIn Finnish: Stablecoin

A crypto-asset designed to stay at one dollar or one euro. Not an investment but a tool. Stability is a promise, not an automatic feature.

Key point

Stability is a promise, not an automatic feature. It holds only as long as the reserves are sufficient.

Crypto17 / 117

DeFiIn Finnish: DeFi

Decentralized finance: lending, trading and earning interest without a bank, with code handling the agreements. Opportunities, and entirely new risks.

Key point

A bank without a bank, but bugs in the code cost real money.

Crypto18 / 117

StakingIn Finnish: Staking

You lock up your crypto to help secure the network and receive a reward for it (e.g. ~3–5% p.a.). It's different from a dividend: the reward is for the network's validation work.

Key point

A reward for network validation work, not a dividend. In Finland it's taxable income right away.

Crypto19 / 117

Cold storageIn Finnish: Kylmäsäilytys

Keeping your keys offline, on a physical device or on paper. It removes the hacking risk but shifts the responsibility to you.

Key point

Removes the hacking risk but shifts the responsibility to you: lose your recovery phrase, and the money is gone.

Crypto20 / 117

MiCAIn Finnish: MiCA

The EU's crypto regulation. It requires service providers to have authorization, capital and segregation of client assets. It doesn't remove investment risk; it brings structure.

Key point

Regulated provider ≠ risk-free investment. Regulation brings structure; it doesn't guarantee returns.

Instruments21 / 117

ExchangeIn Finnish: Pörssi

A regulated marketplace where buyers and sellers meet. The exchange doesn't own the shares. It maintains the order book and price formation: it matches orders and publishes trades transparently.

Key point

The exchange doesn't own shares. Its most important job is fair price formation.

Instruments22 / 117

Order bookIn Finnish: Tilauskirja

A list of all open buy and sell orders by price level. Its depth tells you about liquidity: how much you can trade without moving the price.

Key point

The book's depth tells you about liquidity: in a thin book, a large order moves the price.

Instruments23 / 117

Bid-ask spreadIn Finnish: Spread

The best price buyers offer and the best price sellers ask aren't the same, and the gap between them is the spread. It's a hidden cost you pay every time you buy and sell.

Key point

The spread is a hidden cost you pay every time. Wide spread? Use a limit order.

Instruments24 / 117

Dark poolIn Finnish: Dark pool

A private trading venue where orders don't appear in the public order book. Institutions trade large blocks there without moving the market price.

Key point

Orders don't appear in the public book: large blocks without market impact.

Instruments25 / 117

Market makerIn Finnish: Markkinatakaaja

A firm that continuously quotes both a buy and a sell price and earns the spread. It provides liquidity: you can always trade because someone is on the other side.

Key point

Provides continuous buy and sell prices and carries inventory risk. That's why it earns the spread.

Instruments26 / 117

ETPIn Finnish: ETP

An umbrella term for all exchange-traded products: ETFs, ETCs and ETNs are all ETPs. The structure determines the risk, not the name.

Key point

ETP is the family name; ETF, ETC and ETN are the first names. The structure determines the risk.

Instruments27 / 117

ETCIn Finnish: ETC

An exchange-listed commodity or crypto product. Most often a debt instrument that is collateralized with physical gold or crypto. Not a fund: the issuer's structure is what matters.

Key point

Usually a collateralized debt security, not a fund. The issuer's structure is what matters.

Instruments28 / 117

ETNIn Finnish: ETN

An issuer's unsecured debt obligation that promises to track an index. If the issuer fails, you can lose your money even if the index has risen.

Key point

Unsecured debt obligation: if the issuer fails, you can lose your money even though the index has risen.

Instruments29 / 117

UCITSIn Finnish: UCITS

The EU fund framework that provides strict investor protection: diversification requirements, segregation of assets with a depositary and daily redeemability. A “UCITS ETF” is the gold standard for retail investors.

Key point

If you see “UCITS”, the product is built to protect retail investors: diversification and segregation of assets are mandatory.

Instruments30 / 117

CollateralIn Finnish: Vakuus

Assets pledged to secure an obligation. If the counterparty fails, the collateral covers the loss. A collateralized product is safer than an unsecured one. Always ask what the collateral is.

Key point

Collateralized = something concrete behind it. An unsecured product rests on a promise alone.

Instruments31 / 117

SPVIn Finnish: SPV

A separate, bankruptcy-remote company that issues the product and holds the collateral. If the parent company fails, the product's collateral is protected (“bankruptcy remote”).

Key point

Bankruptcy remote: the collateral doesn't get mixed into the parent company's bankruptcy estate.

Instruments32 / 117

DerivativeIn Finnish: Johdannainen

A contract whose value is derived from something else: a share, an index, a commodity. Options and futures are derivatives. They're powerful, but leverage magnifies both gains and losses.

Key point

You don't own the underlying asset but a contract on its price. Leverage magnifies in both directions.

Instruments33 / 117

LeverageIn Finnish: Vipu

A position enlarged with debt or derivatives. It multiplies both gains and losses. 2× leverage: market +10% → +20%, but −10% → −20%. It isn't free: financing costs and risk increase.

Key point

Leverage doesn't turn a bad idea into a good one. It only magnifies the outcome.

Instruments35 / 117

TERIn Finnish: TER

The annual ongoing cost as a percentage. The only sure thing you can control. With compounding, 0.2% vs. 1.5% makes a huge difference over 20 years.

Key point

The cost is certain; the return isn't. A 1% difference in costs can mean tens of thousands of euros by retirement age.

Instruments36 / 117

Best executionIn Finnish: Best execution

A legal obligation to aim for the best overall result for the client: price, costs, speed and likelihood of execution. Not a guarantee of the lowest price every time, but an effort to achieve the best result.

Key point

An effort to achieve the best overall result, not a guarantee of the lowest price every time.

Basics37 / 117

Mutual fundIn Finnish: Rahasto

A shared investment pot: the money of many investors is pooled and invested in a diversified way. A traditional fund is subscribed and redeemed once a day.

Key point

A fund handles diversification for you, but check the fee: it is decisive for your long-term return.

Basics38 / 117

Index fundIn Finnish: Indeksirahasto

A fund that simply copies an index (e.g. the S&P 500) and doesn't try to beat it. Low cost, predictable contents.

Key point

Few active funds beat a low-cost index over the long term. Low cost is the surest advantage.

Basics39 / 117

Active fundIn Finnish: Aktiivinen rahasto

A portfolio manager picks the holdings based on their own views, aiming to beat the index. Higher costs, manager risk.

Key point

You pay for active management, so demand value for it. Don't buy just because of a fancy name.

Markets40 / 117

Market capIn Finnish: Markkina-arvo

A company's total value on the stock market: share price × number of shares. It tells you the company's size, not how expensive it is.

Key point

A share's price in euros doesn't tell you the company's size. Market cap does.

Markets41 / 117

P/E ratioIn Finnish: P/E-luku

Price divided by earnings per share. How many years of earnings you pay for the share.

Key point

High P/E = lots of expectations priced in. Always read it relative to the industry and growth.

Markets42 / 117

Dividend yieldIn Finnish: Osinkotuotto

The annual dividend divided by the share price, as a percentage. The cash return relative to the price.

Key point

An unusually high dividend yield can be a warning sign of a collapsed share price.

Markets43 / 117

P/B ratioIn Finnish: P/B-luku

Price divided by equity per share. How much above book value you're paying.

Key point

Useful for banks and industrial companies. Below 1 can mean cheap, or trouble.

Basics44 / 117

Total returnIn Finnish: Kokonaistuotto

A return that includes both the price change and the dividends, reinvested. The right measure for comparisons.

Key point

The price alone isn't enough. Total return also counts the dividends.

Economy45 / 117

Real returnIn Finnish: Reaalituotto

Return after inflation. It tells you how much your purchasing power really grew.

Key point

A 5% return and 3% inflation = only ~2% real return. Inflation is a silent deduction.

Basics46 / 117

PortfolioIn Finnish: Salkku

All your investments taken together. The structure of the portfolio, not any single share, determines return and risk.

Key point

Asset allocation is the most important portfolio decision. Think about the whole, not individual bets.

Basics47 / 117

Asset allocationIn Finnish: Allokaatio

How your wealth is divided between asset classes (stocks, bonds, cash). The single most important investment decision.

Key point

The most important decision isn't which stock, but how much in stocks vs. bonds.

Basics48 / 117

RebalancingIn Finnish: Uudelleentasapainotus

Bringing the weights back to target after the market has shifted them. You sell what has risen and buy what has lagged behind.

Key point

A systematic way to sell high and buy low, without guesswork.

Basics49 / 117

Risk profileIn Finnish: Riskiprofiili

How much volatility you can take without losing sleep or selling at the bottom. It guides your asset allocation.

Key point

An honest risk profile prevents panic selling at exactly the wrong moment.

Basics50 / 117

Time horizonIn Finnish: Aikahorisontti

How long the money can grow before you need it. A long horizon can withstand more risk.

Key point

The longer the time, the more equity risk you can carry. Time smooths out the swings.

Markets51 / 117

CorrelationIn Finnish: Korrelaatio

Measures whether two investments move in step. Low correlation brings a diversification benefit.

Key point

Diversification only works if the holdings don't move in step.

Markets52 / 117

BetaIn Finnish: Beeta

Measures how much a stock swings relative to the market as a whole. Beta 1 = moves with the market.

Key point

Beta above 1 = bigger swings than the market, both up and down.

Markets53 / 117

Sharpe ratioIn Finnish: Sharpe-luku

Return relative to the risk taken. Higher = a better return for each unit of volatility you bear.

Key point

A high return isn't enough: how much risk did it take? The Sharpe ratio answers that.

Markets54 / 117

Bull marketIn Finnish: Härkämarkkina

A long upswing when prices and optimism rise. The opposite of a bear market.

Key point

At the peak the mood is euphoric, and that's exactly when risk is at its highest.

Markets55 / 117

CorrectionIn Finnish: Korjausliike

A fall of about 10% from the peak. Completely normal; it happens almost every year.

Key point

A correction isn't a crisis. It's part of investing just as surely as the rises are.

Markets56 / 117

CrashIn Finnish: Romahdus

A fast, steep drop (e.g. 2008, 2020). Historically the market has often recovered, but recovery is not guaranteed.

Key point

Selling at the bottom locks in the loss. Historically the market has often recovered, but recovery is not guaranteed.

Markets57 / 117

BubbleIn Finnish: Kupla

Prices break away from real value, driven by euphoria and speculation, until they burst.

Key point

“This time is different” is the most dangerous sentence in a bubble.

Markets58 / 117

BondIn Finnish: Joukkolaina

A loan you give to a government or a company. You receive interest (the coupon) and get your capital back on the maturity date.

Key point

Rates up → older bonds' prices down. Yields and prices move in opposite directions.

Markets59 / 117

Government bondIn Finnish: Valtionlaina

A bond issued by a government. Usually the lowest credit risk and the most stable coupon.

Key point

A safe haven in uncertain times: low risk, low return.

Markets60 / 117

Corporate bondIn Finnish: Yrityslaina

A bond issued by a company. A higher return than a government bond, but credit risk too.

Key point

Higher coupon = higher credit risk. There's no free lunch.

Markets61 / 117

High yieldIn Finnish: High yield

A corporate bond with a weaker credit rating. The highest interest return and the highest risk of bankruptcy.

Key point

A “junk bond” pays the most, and it's the first to fail in a recession.

Markets62 / 117

Investment gradeIn Finnish: Investment grade

Bonds from financially sound issuers (high credit rating). Moderate risk.

Key point

The steadier end of the bond market: quality, not excitement.

Markets63 / 117

Credit ratingIn Finnish: Luottoluokitus

An independent assessment of an issuer's ability to repay (AAA…D). The lower the rating, the higher the interest rate.

Key point

Low rating = higher interest as compensation for the risk.

Markets64 / 117

CouponIn Finnish: Kuponki

The regular interest a bond pays, usually annually or semiannually.

Key point

The coupon is the bond's ongoing income. The capital is returned separately on the maturity date.

Economy65 / 117

Yield curveIn Finnish: Tuottokäyrä

Interest rates at different maturities (2 yrs, 10 yrs, 30 yrs). Its shape tells you how the market sees the economic outlook.

Key point

An inverted curve (short rates above long rates) is a traditional recession warning.

Economy66 / 117

Policy rateIn Finnish: Ohjauskorko

The interest rate set by a central bank, which steers short-term rates and the level of interest rates across the whole economy.

Key point

Policy rate up → borrowing costs more, saving pays more. The whole market reacts.

Economy67 / 117

Central bankIn Finnish: Keskuspankki

Runs monetary policy and sets the policy rate (ECB, Fed). Aims for stable inflation.

Key point

Central bank rate decisions move all asset classes.

Economy68 / 117

DeflationIn Finnish: Deflaatio

A general fall in the price level. It sounds good, but it can paralyze the economy as people postpone spending.

Key point

Deflation is inflation's more dangerous sister. It freezes the economy.

Economy69 / 117

StagflationIn Finnish: Stagflaatio

A rare combination: high inflation + weak growth. The hardest environment for an investor.

Key point

Rates go up and growth goes down. Real assets protect best.

Economy70 / 117

RecessionIn Finnish: Taantuma

A contraction of the economy (traditionally two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth).

Key point

The market prices in a recession before it shows up in the figures.

Economy71 / 117

GDPIn Finnish: BKT

Gross domestic product: the total value of the goods and services an economy produces. The basic measure of growth.

Key point

GDP growth supports company earnings, but the market looks ahead.

Markets72 / 117

Currency riskIn Finnish: Valuuttariski

The return on a foreign investment is also affected by changes in the exchange rate, not just by the value of the asset.

Key point

In a global portfolio, currency comes as part of the package. Over the long run it often evens out.

Markets73 / 117

Exchange rateIn Finnish: Valuuttakurssi

The price of one currency in another (e.g. EUR/USD). It moves the value of foreign investments in euros.

Key point

A strong euro eats into foreign returns; a weak euro boosts them.

Markets74 / 117

HedgingIn Finnish: Suojaus

Taking a position to reduce risk, e.g. currency hedging or a derivative used as insurance.

Key point

Hedging costs money. For a broad, long-term portfolio it often isn't worth it.

Markets75 / 117

OptionIn Finnish: Optio

A right (not an obligation) to buy or sell an asset at a set price. It involves leverage.

Key point

With an option, a small stake moves a lot. Leverage magnifies in both directions.

Markets76 / 117

FutureIn Finnish: Futuuri

A standardized contract to buy or sell an asset in the future at an agreed price. Traded on exchanges and leveraged.

Key point

You don't own the underlying asset but a contract on its price, and you carry leverage risk.

Markets77 / 117

Short sellingIn Finnish: Lyhyeksimyynti

Selling borrowed shares with the aim of buying them back cheaper. The loss can be unlimited.

Key point

If the price rises, a short seller's loss is unlimited. Very high risk.

Markets78 / 117

Risk premiumIn Finnish: Riskipreemio

The extra return over the risk-free rate that an investor demands as compensation for risk.

Key point

Return is compensation for the risk you take, and the risk premium is its price.

Taxes79 / 117

Book-entry accountIn Finnish: Arvo-osuustili

A regular investment account (arvo-osuustili, AOT). Any investment can be held in it, but tax becomes payable on every sale at a profit.

Key point

Full range (ETFs too) + the deemed acquisition cost is available.

Taxes80 / 117

Capital income taxIn Finnish: Pääomatulovero

The tax on investment returns in Finland: 30%, and 34% on gains above €30,000. It applies to capital gains and dividends.

Key point

85% of a listed company's dividend is taxable, so the effective tax is about 25.5%.

Taxes81 / 117

Deemed acquisition costIn Finnish: Hankintameno-olettama

An alternative way to calculate the tax: an assumed purchase price of 20% (held under 10 yrs) or 40% (held ≥10 yrs) of the sale price.

Key point

You choose the method that's more favorable to you: the actual acquisition cost or the deemed cost.

Taxes82 / 117

Withholding taxIn Finnish: Lähdevero

Tax withheld by the source country on dividends received from abroad. It is credited in Finnish taxation under the tax treaty.

Key point

Foreign shares held directly = withholding tax paperwork; an ETF wrapper is often simpler.

Taxes83 / 117

Capital lossIn Finnish: Luovutustappio

A deductible item that arises from a sale at a loss. It is deducted from gains and other capital income.

Key point

Even a loss isn't wasted: it reduces the tax on your other gains.

Basics84 / 117

Management feeIn Finnish: Hallinnointipalkkio

A fund's annual fee for managing it, part of the ongoing charges (TER). It's charged automatically from the fund's value.

Key point

1.5% vs. 0.2% is a huge difference over decades. Costs compound in reverse.

Basics85 / 117

Performance feeIn Finnish: Tuottosidonnainen palkkio

An extra fee a fund charges when it beats its target. Common in hedge funds (e.g. 20% of profits).

Key point

“2 and 20”: fees eat a large part of a hedge fund's return.

Basics86 / 117

Subscription and redemptionIn Finnish: Merkintä ja lunastus

Buying (subscription) and selling (redemption) fund units, usually once a day at the closing price.

Key point

Unlike an ETF, a traditional fund trades only once a day.

Basics87 / 117

Cost averagingIn Finnish: Ajallinen hajautus

Investing the same amount regularly, regardless of the market level. It takes the guesswork out of timing.

Key point

When prices fall, the same amount buys more units, so volatility works in your favor.

Basics88 / 117

Emergency fundIn Finnish: Hätävara

A cash buffer worth 3–6 months of expenses. It prevents forced selling of your investments when an unexpected expense comes up.

Key point

An emergency fund is what lets you wait out a falling market calmly.

Basics89 / 117

ESGIn Finnish: ESG

Environmental, social and governance: a way to assess a company with non-financial measures as well.

Key point

Good governance (G) correlates with returns. Otherwise ESG is a values choice, not a guarantee of outperformance.

Basics90 / 117

GreenwashingIn Finnish: Viherpesu

Creating an impression of responsibility without real substance. “Green” in the name guarantees nothing.

Key point

Be as critical of sustainability claims as you are of return promises.

Basics91 / 117

GlidepathIn Finnish: Glidepath

Gradually lowering the equity weight as a goal (e.g. retirement) approaches. Risk is reduced in a controlled way.

Key point

Growth when you're young, stability near the goal: time steers the equity weight.

Basics92 / 117

Core-satelliteIn Finnish: Ydin-satelliitti

A portfolio model: a broad, low-cost index as the core (80–90%) and small, deliberate tilts as satellites.

Key point

The core carries the portfolio, the satellites add flavor: a view without betting the whole portfolio.

Crypto93 / 117

EthereumIn Finnish: Ethereum

The second-largest crypto-asset and a platform for smart contracts. It moved to proof of stake in 2022.

Key point

Bitcoin is digital gold, Ethereum is a programmable platform. Different purposes.

Crypto94 / 117

AltcoinIn Finnish: Altcoin

Any crypto-asset other than bitcoin. There are thousands, and the vast majority are very risky.

Key point

The further from bitcoin, the wilder the risk. Most altcoins die.

Crypto95 / 117

TokenIn Finnish: Token

A digital unit created on top of a blockchain. It can represent a currency, a stake, a right or an asset.

Key point

A token is a wrapper. What matters is what it actually represents.

Crypto96 / 117

Smart contractIn Finnish: Älysopimus

Code that runs automatically on a blockchain and carries out an agreement without an intermediary.

Key point

Code handles the agreement, but bugs in the code cost real money.

Crypto97 / 117

Gas feeIn Finnish: Gas-maksu

A network fee charged for a blockchain transaction, paying for the computing power. It varies with congestion.

Key point

When the network is congested, the gas fee can exceed the value of the transfer itself. Timing matters.

Crypto98 / 117

NFTIn Finnish: NFT

A non-fungible token that proves ownership of a unique digital item.

Key point

A certificate of ownership on the chain. Its value depends on demand, not on the technology.

Crypto99 / 117

Proof of workIn Finnish: Proof of Work

A consensus mechanism in which miners solve computational puzzles (bitcoin). Secure but energy-intensive.

Key point

Bitcoin's security rests on enormous computing power, which is why it consumes energy.

Crypto100 / 117

Proof of stakeIn Finnish: Proof of Stake

A consensus mechanism in which locked-up crypto (the stake) secures the network instead of mining. More energy-efficient.

Key point

Ethereum switched to it in 2022, using ~99% less energy than mining.

Crypto101 / 117

HalvingIn Finnish: Halving

The halving of bitcoin's mining reward roughly every four years. It slows the creation of new bitcoins.

Key point

Supply growth is cut in half. Scarcity is in the code, not in a promise.

Crypto102 / 117

DEXIn Finnish: DEX

A decentralized exchange on a blockchain: prices come from a liquidity pool, you hold the keys yourself, and there's no intermediary.

Key point

You hold the keys yourself, but you pay network fees and carry smart contract risk.

Crypto103 / 117

CEXIn Finnish: CEX

A centralized exchange that maintains an order book and holds customers' assets. Liquid, but with counterparty risk.

Key point

Easy and liquid, but someone else holds the keys (FTX showed why that matters).

Crypto104 / 117

Liquidity poolIn Finnish: Likviditeettiallas

A crypto pair locked up by users, from which a DEX prices trades using a mathematical formula (AMM).

Key point

The pool replaces the order book: the return comes from fees, the risk from impermanent loss.

Crypto105 / 117

Seed phraseIn Finnish: Seed-lause

A 12–24-word recovery phrase that unlocks a crypto wallet. Whoever knows it owns the assets.

Key point

Lose your seed phrase and the assets are gone for good. No one can recover them.

Crypto106 / 117

Hot walletIn Finnish: Hot wallet

A wallet connected to the internet. Quick to use, but more exposed to hacking than cold storage.

Key point

A small, active amount in a hot wallet, a large amount in cold storage.

Crypto107 / 117

MPCIn Finnish: MPC

Splitting keys into parts so that no single party controls them alone. A custody model used by institutions.

Key point

No single key to hack: security is shared among several parties.

Crypto108 / 117

Proof of reservesIn Finnish: Proof of reserves

Verifiable evidence that a service provider really holds its customers' assets.

Key point

Always ask: are the assets verifiably there and segregated?

Crypto109 / 117

CASPIn Finnish: CASP

MiCA's term for an authorized crypto-asset service provider: capital, segregation of assets, best execution, supervision.

Key point

A regulated CASP ≠ a risk-free investment. It brings structure, not a guarantee of returns.

Crypto110 / 117

EMTIn Finnish: EMT

MiCA's stablecoin category: pegged to a single official currency, with full reserves and a right of redemption at face value.

Key point

The most strictly regulated stablecoin, but stability is a promise, not an automatic feature.

Crypto111 / 117

CBDCIn Finnish: CBDC

A digital currency issued by a central bank (e.g. the digital euro). Not the same as a crypto-asset.

Key point

Government money in digital form: not something to speculate on but a means of payment.

Crypto112 / 117

TokenizationIn Finnish: Tokenisaatio

Bringing real-world assets (a share, a property, a loan) onto a blockchain as tokens so they can be traded.

Key point

The promise: round-the-clock trading and divisibility. Regulation is still taking shape.

Crypto113 / 117

Rug pullIn Finnish: Rug pull

A scam in which the creators collect investors' money and disappear. Common in little-known altcoins.

Key point

If the promise is too good and the team is anonymous, it's often a rug pull.

Crypto114 / 117

HODLIn Finnish: HODL

Crypto slang for holding for the long term instead of selling, even through violent swings.

Key point

Holding beats trading only if you can handle the volatility, and if the asset survives.

Crypto115 / 117

Perpetual swapIn Finnish: Perpetual

A perpetual future with no expiry date. A funding rate balances long and short positions. Most of crypto trading volume is in these.

Key point

Most crypto trading is in leveraged derivatives, not spot purchases.

Crypto116 / 117

Funding rateIn Finnish: Funding rate

The rate that long and short holders of a perpetual future pay each other, which keeps the price close to the spot price.

Key point

High funding = the market is leaning one way, and a reversal is near.

Crypto117 / 117

On-chainIn Finnish: On-chain

A transaction that happens on the blockchain and can be publicly verified, as opposed to an exchange's internal bookkeeping.

Key point

On-chain = publicly verifiable; inside an exchange you trust its bookkeeping.

Master the words.

Once you know the terms, the rest is easier. Continue in the Academy, from the basics to alternative investments.

Educational content, not investment advice. Investing involves a risk of losing capital.