Definition
An individual or entity that holds a large amount of Bitcoin. Whale movements can sometimes influence market prices due to the size of their transactions.
Related Terms
Wallet
Software or hardware that stores your Bitcoin private keys and allows you to send and receive Bitcoin. Wallets don't store Bitcoin itself—they store the keys to access it.
Whitepaper
The original document published by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008 titled "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System." It describes the technical design and purpose of Bitcoin.
UTXO
Unspent Transaction Output. The way Bitcoin tracks ownership. Each UTXO represents a specific amount of Bitcoin that can be spent in a future transaction.
Self-Custody
The practice of holding your own Bitcoin private keys rather than trusting a third party. Summarized by the phrase "not your keys, not your coins."
Seed Phrase
A set of 12 or 24 words that serves as a master backup for a Bitcoin wallet. Can be used to recover your wallet if your device is lost or damaged. Must be stored securely offline.