A

Accredited Investor

An individual or entity meeting specific financial thresholds established by securities regulators, qualifying them to…

Accumulation Phase

A market cycle stage characterized by institutional and sophisticated investors quietly building positions following a…

Airdrop

A token distribution mechanism where cryptocurrency projects deliver tokens directly to wallet addresses, typically for…

Algorithm

A defined set of computational rules and procedures designed to solve specific problems or execute…

All-Time-High (ATH)

The highest price level a cryptocurrency has ever reached throughout its trading history. ATH serves…

All-Time-Low (ATL)

The lowest price a cryptocurrency has recorded since inception. ATL metrics provide context for drawdown…

Allocated Gold

A form of precious metal ownership where specific, identified gold bars or coins are held…

Alpha

A measure of investment performance relative to a benchmark index, representing returns attributable to active…

Alternative Assets

Non-traditional investments falling outside standard asset classes of stocks, bonds, and cash, including private equity,…

Alternative Investments

Asset classes outside traditional stocks, bonds, and cash equivalents, including private equity, hedge funds, real…

B

Backtest

The process of evaluating a trading strategy or investment model by applying it to historical…

Basis Point

A unit of measurement equal to one hundredth of one percentage point (0.01%), commonly used…

Bear Market

An extended period of declining asset prices, typically defined as a drop of 20% or…

Behavioral Finance

A field of study combining psychology and economics to explain why people make irrational financial…

Benchmark

A standard reference point against which investment performance is measured and compared. Common cryptocurrency benchmarks…

Benchmarking

The process of comparing business processes and performance metrics to industry bests or best practices…

Beneficiary Planning

The strategic process of preparing heirs and designating how assets will be distributed from trusts,…

Bitcoin Dominance

The ratio of Bitcoin's market capitalization to the total cryptocurrency market capitalization, expressed as a…

Bitcoin ETF

An exchange-traded fund that provides exposure to Bitcoin through traditional brokerage accounts without requiring direct…

Bitcoin Halving

A programmed event occurring approximately every four years that reduces the Bitcoin block reward by…

C

Capital Gains

Profits realized from selling an asset at a higher price than its purchase cost. Cryptocurrency…

Capital Preservation

A conservative investment strategy where the primary goal is to prevent the loss of initial…

Cash Flow Management

The process of tracking, analyzing, and optimizing the net amount of cash receipts minus cash…

Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)

A digital form of fiat currency issued directly by a nation's central bank, representing a…

Centralized Exchange (CEX)

A cryptocurrency trading platform operated by a company that maintains custody of user assets and…

CFA Charterholder

An investment professional who has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, widely considered the gold…

Charitable Giving

The voluntary donation of money, assets, or time to non-profit organizations supporting causes such as…

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

The senior executive in a family office tasked with managing the family's financial actions, including…

Chief Investment Officer (CIO)

The executive within a family office responsible for the overarching investment strategy and performance of…

Circulating Supply

The total quantity of a cryptocurrency's tokens currently available for trading in the public market,…

D

Decentralization

The distribution of authority, control, and operations across multiple independent participants rather than concentration in…

Decentralized Application (DApp)

Software applications that operate on decentralized blockchain networks using smart contracts, functioning without central servers…

Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO)

An organization governed by rules encoded in smart contracts, with decisions made through token-holder voting…

Decentralized Exchange (DEX)

A cryptocurrency trading platform operating through smart contracts without centralized custody of user funds or…

Decentralized Finance (DeFi)

A category of financial applications built on blockchain networks that provide services including lending, borrowing,…

Derivative

A financial instrument whose value is derived from the performance of an underlying asset, index,…

Digital Asset

A broad category encompassing any asset that exists in digital form with distinct ownership rights,…

Digital Transformation

The integration of digital technology into all areas of a business, fundamentally changing how it…

Direct Investing

A family office taking an equity stake directly in a private company or real estate…

Discretionary Mandate

An agreement that gives an investment manager the authority to make buy and sell decisions…

E

Economic Diversification

The strategy of shifting an economy or a portfolio away from a single income source…

Economic Indicators

Statistical metrics used by economists and investors to analyze current economic conditions and forecast future…

Economic Moat

A competitive advantage that a company has over its competitors, allowing it to protect its…

Economic Outlook

A forecast of the future direction of an economy, typically focusing on indicators like GDP…

Economic Substance Regulations

Laws introduced in low-tax jurisdictions requiring companies to demonstrate that they conduct actual, value-generating activities…

Encryption

The process of converting readable data into coded form that can only be accessed with…

Enterprise Blockchain

Blockchain implementations designed for business applications, often featuring permissioned access, privacy controls, and integration with…

Enterprise Lifecycle Management (ELM)

A holistic approach to managing the entire lifespan of a family office's business processes, software,…

Escrow

An arrangement where assets are held by a neutral third party until specified conditions are…

ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)

A set of criteria used to screen investments based on corporate policies and to encourage…

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