USDT (Tether) is the largest stablecoin by circulation, designed to maintain a 1:1 peg with the US dollar through fiat reserves. This post explains how Tether works, where constraints live, and what would confirm or break its peg.

A cold wallet stores cryptocurrency private keys offline, completely isolated from internet-connected devices. This explanation covers how the air gap mechanism works, where security constraints live, and whether operational friction justifies the security benefits.

A hot wallet is cryptocurrency wallet software connected to the internet. The keys stay ready and accessible, which makes transactions immediate but creates an attack surface. Understand the mechanism, security tradeoffs, and when the convenience justifies the risk.

A non-custodial wallet is a cryptocurrency wallet where you control the private keys directly—no third party can access, freeze, or lose your funds. This post explains how control works, where risks live, and what's changing.

A custodial wallet is a cryptocurrency wallet where a third party controls the private keys on your behalf. Understand the mechanism, tradeoffs, and what it means for actual ownership.

A digital signature is cryptographic proof that a transaction was authorized by the private key holder—created through elliptic curve mathematics, verifiable by anyone using the public key, but impossible to forge without the private key.

Cryptography in blockchain provides the mathematical security enabling trustless systems through hash functions, public-key cryptography, and digital signatures working together to create immutability and verifiable ownership.

A hash in blockchain is a cryptographic fingerprint—a fixed-length output from a one-way function that makes tampering detectable. Understanding how hashing secures blockchains clarifies why certain attacks are computationally impossible.

A mempool is the waiting area where unconfirmed blockchain transactions sit before being added to a block. This post explains how mempools work, why they matter, and what happens when they fill up.

A blockchain transaction is a signed instruction to transfer value or execute code. This post explains how transactions work, where they can fail, and what makes them different from traditional payments.

Layer 2 blockchains process transactions off the main chain, then settle batches on Layer 1 for security. Understand how rollups reduce costs while maintaining decentralization.

A Layer 1 blockchain is a base-layer protocol that processes and finalizes transactions independently, without relying on another blockchain. This explains how L1s work, where constraints live, and what separates them from Layer 2 solutions.