Create a NFT Collection
A guide to creating a NFT collection on Cardano using JavaScript.
𝛑 + ₳ = ∞ (PIADA)
PIADA provides educational content specializing in Raspberry Pi and ARM 64-bit SoC based stake pool operations.
Create Single NFT
How to create a NFT on Cardano with JavaScript.
Monitor your stake pool using Grafana
Configure your nodes to export metrics to be displayed on Grafana dashboards.
Raspberry Pi OS Cardano Node
Set up and run a Cardano node on Raspberry Pi OS.
Updating a Cardano Node
Cardano-CLI
The command line interface from which a user can interact with the Cardano node and blockchain.
Cardanocli-js
This is a library, which wraps the cardano-cli with JavaScript and makes it possible to interact with the cli-commands much faster and more efficient.
Automated Market Maker
Automated Market Maker (AMM).
What is DeFi
Liquidity Pools
A liquidity pool is a smart contract that locks up tokens to be used in DeFi services like lending, borrowing, and trading.
Synthetic Assets
Digital assets that capture the price movements of popular cryptocurrencies, fiat currencies, stocks, commodities and more with zero slippage.
Yield farming
The process of staking your cryptocurrencies in a liquidity pool to earn passive income.
Decentralized Exchange
A decentralized exchange for cyptocurrencies and other digital assets that has no central authority or traditional KYC required.
History of Proof-of-Stake
Currency
Currency is a medium of exchange for goods and services.
Fiat
Fiat is defined as currency that is declared by a country’s government to be legal tender.
Proof of stake (PoS)
A type of consensus mechanism used to reach agreement on records in the blockchain. It ensures distributed consensus based on the stake, or wealth, that is held by participants in the system. This stake is used as the main resource to determine the participant’s power in the system for maintaining the ledger.
A Brief History of PoW
Cardano
Cardano is a proof-of-stake blockchain platform: the first to be founded on peer-reviewed research and developed through evidence-based methods.
Double spending problem
When a digital currency is spent more than once. Historically this was a problem with early versions of cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency to solve this problem.
Register your stake pool
Ahoy Matey
Cardano Staking
Cryptography
Cryptography is a set of rules for encoding information into a message that can only be decoded by someone with the same knowledge of the secret key.
Cryptology
The scientific study of cryptography and cryptanalysis.
DAO
A decentralized autonomous organization.
ACTUS
Algorithmic Contract Types Unified Standards. A taxonomy and standard for financial contracts.
ASIC
An “Application Specific Integrated Circuit” is a silicon chip specifically designed to do a single task.
Active endpoint
An endpoint that is active on a contract application instance.
Ada (₳)
The digital currency (or cryptocurrency) of the Cardano blockchain. 1 Ada = 1 million Lovelace. Ada and Lovelace are named after the mathematician Ada Lovelace.
Adalite
A simple Cardano web wallet developed by Cardano partners Vacuumlabs.
address
The address of an UTXO says where the output is “going”.
Adrestia
Adrestia is a collection of products which makes it easier to integrate with Cardano.
Airdrop
Airdrop is a term for marketing campaign launched by many ICOs in which they distributes their specific token to the general public.
Alice and Bob
Cryptographic protocols are often made clearer by considering parties A and B, or Alice and Bob, performing some protocol.
Altcoins
Altcoin is an abbreviation of “Bitcoin alternative”.
Asset-group
A collection of tokens/assets that share the same minting policy.
Atomic swap
Atomic swap is a technology based on smart contracts that enables the exchange of different cryptocurrencies without the need for a centralized market or other intermediaries.
Balance wallet
A wallet that stores your initial testnet ada balance, copied from the mainnet via the balance snapshot.
Basho
Fourth phase of Cardano development in which performance improvements will be integrated.
Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT)
Byzantine fault tolerance (BFT), is a property in the system that ensures there is resistance to certain types of failures.
Block
A slot that contains a set of recent transactions on a blockchain network. Each block contains data required to manage the blockchain, including an encrypted version of the previous block.
Blockchain explorer
An online tool for exploring the blockchain of a particular cryptocurrency, where you can watch and follow live all the transactions happening on the blockchain.
Blockchain
A growing list of records, called blocks, that are linked using cryptography. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data. Blockchain is a fundamental system underpinning cryptocurrencies, acting as the public transaction ledger.
Byron
The name of the first ‘boot strap’ phase of Cardano development. The first era of the Cardano blockchain.
Cardano Foundation
An independent standards body based in Switzerland with core responsibilities to oversee and supervise the development of Cardano and its ecosystem.
Cardano node
A participant on the Cardano blockchain network, continuously making, sending, receiving, and validating blocks.
Contract for difference (CFD)
Part of a wider group of trading products known as derivatives, they are a popular method of trading stocks, bonds, and commodities that allow you to speculate on the price.
Chain
A set of blocks that have been produced and are connected to one another in consecutive order.
Cold wallet
A cold wallet or cold storage is a type of cryptocurrency wallet aiming for maximum security.
Consensus
A way for a decentralized system to reach a consistent view of shared collections of data. Cardano uses the Ouroboros consensus algorithm, which is an algorithm based on proof of stake.
Contract application
An application written against the contract application API, which runs in the PAB.
Contract Executable
A compiled executable of a contract application.
Cost per epoch
A fixed fee, in ada, which the stake pool operator takes every epoch from the pool rewards to cover the costs of running a stake pool.
Crypto mining
In proof-of-work blockchain's like Bitcoin mining is the process by which new crypto-currencies or digital assets are created and distributed to the blockchain's decentralized ledger.
Cryptocurrency Wallet
A cryptocurrency wallet or simply wallet is a software application or hardware device that is used to receive and send cryptocurrencies.
Cryptocurrency
The process by which new coins of creating new
Daedalus
A secure wallet for Ada that manages balances and provides the ability to send and receive payments.
DApp
Decentralized application.
Datum
The data field on script outputs in the Extended UTXO model.
DeFi
Decentralized finance.
Decentralized
Decentralization refers to the property of a system in which nodes or actors work in concert in a distributed fashion to achieve a global goal.
Delegate
The process by which Ada owners can participate in the network and earn rewards by delegating the stake associated with their Ada holdings to a stake pool.
Digital Asset
A digital item of property that holds value stored in the distributed ledger.
EMURGO
EMURGO is a multinational blockchain technology company providing solutions for developers, startups, enterprises, and governments.
Epoch
a defined group of slots that constitute a period of time. In Cardano, one epoch is 5 days long.
EUTXO
Extended unspent transaction output model of Cardano.
Fake Stake Attack
This is the umbrella term that references the various vulnerabilities of Proof-of-Stake cryptocurrencies like Cardano.
Faucet
A web-based service that provides free tokens to users of a testnet.
Fee
Amount of ada or other cryptocurrency charged for transaction processing.
Fifty-one percent attack
If more than half the computer power on a network is run by a single person or a single group of people, then a 51% attack is in operation.
Forging context
A data structure containing a summary of the transaction being validated, and the current forging policy which is being run.
Forging policy script
A script which must be satisfied in order for a transaction to forge tokens of the corresponding currency.
Forging
A transaction which forges tokens creates new tokens, providing that the corresponding monetary policy script is satisfied.
Fork
A significant update to the software governing a blockchain platform, which may change rules, make existing rules invalid, or create new rules, is called a fork.
Fungible token/asset
an asset that is interchangeable and indistinguishable with some other asset(s). Same denomination bills and coins are fungible assets, for example, like equal quantities of ada to lovelaces.
Genesis block
The very first block ever created on a blockchain.
Goguen
Third phase of Cardano development in which smart contracts will be delivered.
Hard Fork
A radical change of the network’s protocol changing the state of operational flow from one model to a completely different one.
Hardware wallet
A hardware wallet is a special type of wallet that stores the user's private keys in a secure hardware device.
Hash function
A hash function is a type of Hash-based cryptography algorithm which encrypts a large, possibly variable-sized amount of data into a small datum, usually a single integer that may serve as an index to an array.
Hot wallet
A hot wallet is a cryptocurrency wallet which is or was connected to the internet. One of the advantages of hot wallets is that they can be used to make small everyday transactions.
Hydra
A layer 2 scalibility solution for the Cardano blockchain.
Incentive
A way to encourage participants of the system to engage in the network by rewarding them with a return that is proportional to their efforts.
Interoperability
One of the significant features within Cardano development that aims to enable interconnection between numerous blockchains and legitimate recognition of activities by central authorities. Enabled cross-chain transfers and the establishment of the internet of blockchains will grant enhanced user experience and functionality.
IPFS
The InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) is a hypermedia distribution protocol, addressed by content and identities.
Key pair
A set of two keys: public verification key and private signing key. These keys are used to process and approve transactions within the blockchain.
Ledger wallet
A combination of hardware and software that allows you to securely manage your crypto and guides you on your journey towards financial freedom.
Ledger
A distributed database that is operated in a decentralized manner by multiple nodes across numerous locations.
Live stake
The total amount of stake that a stake pool controls. It combines the stake that is owned by the pool operator with any stake that has been delegated to the pool by other ada holders. It can be measured as a total ada amount (e.g. 3M ada), or as a percentage of the total supply of ada within the network (e.g. 5%).
Lovelace
The smallest unit of Ada. 1 Lovelace = 1/1,000,000 Ada. A lovelace is to Ada what a Satoshi is to Bitcoin.
Mainnet
A live blockchain that has been deployed and is in operation.
Marlowe
The domain-specific language (DSL) for writing and executing financial contracts on blockchain.
Metadata
A set of additional data stating certain transaction conditions or owner details.
Minting transaction
Transactions with a field specifying token minting details.
Minting
Also referred to as “Token minting”. The process by which new blocks are created.
Multi-asset
A generic term for a ledger which supports multiple different asset types natively.
Multisig
Simple multiple signature scripting language supported by Cardano Shelly.
Native token
A token type accounting and tracking of which is natively supported by its underlying platform without a need for additional software.
Network
The technical infrastructure combining Cardano nodes and their relative interactions in one unified system.
Non-fungible token/asset (NFT)
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are digital assets that are provably unique, creating digital scarcity. They can't be duplicated or divided.
Ouroboros Byzantine Fault Tolerance
The Cardano network makes use of its Ouroboros Byzantine fault tolerant protocol to ensure security and stability of the entire system.
Off-chain-code
The part of a smart contract application’s code which runs off the chain, usually as a contract application.
On-chain-code
The part of a contract application’s code which runs on the chain (i.e. as scripts).
Oracle Pool
A method by which Oracles are decentralized, such that the external data they provide can be done so with greater assurance and trust. More information.
Oracle
A mechanism by which critical external information that isn’t known or available to a blockchain network is transferred to the network. This can be any kind of information (currency or commodity exchange rates, events happening in the real world, etc.).
Ouroboros
Cardano’s proof of stake algorithm.
PAB client API
A program which interacts with a contract application instance via the PAB’s client API.
Passive node
A Cardano node (relay) that has no incoming connections.
Peer discovery
The process by which nodes find each other on the network and initiate contact
Peer-to-peer (P2P)
Peer-to-peer. Sending transactions or sharing files directly between nodes in a decentralized system without depending on a centralized authority.
Pledge
Pledging is an important mechanism that encourages the growth of a healthy ecosystem within the Cardano blockchain.
Plutus Application Backend (PAB)
The component which manages Plutus Applications that run on users' machines.
Plutus application
An application written using the Plutus Application Framework.
Plutus core
The programming language in which scripts on the Cardano blockchain are written.
Plutus IR
An intermediate language that compiles to Plutus Core.
Plutus platform
The combined software support for writing contract applications
Plutus SDK
The libraries and development tooling for writing contract applications in Haskell.
Plutus Tx
The libraries and compiler for compiling Haskell into Plutus Core to form the on-chain part of a contract application.
Plutus
A Turing-complete programming platform for writing functional smart contracts on the Cardano blockchain.
Pool ID
This is the hash of you stake-pool's metadata JSON file that you have registered on chain when setting up your stake-pool.
Produced blocks
The number of blocks that have been produced by a stake pool in the current epoch. Stake pools are rewarded in ada for each block that they produce.
Proof of work (PoW)
The original consensus algorithm in early blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin. This algorithm is used to confirm transactions and produce new blocks to the chain. With PoW, “miners” (those performing the computational work) compete against each other to complete transactions on the network and get rewarded.
Protocol
A term used for consensus reaching methods. For instance, Ouroboros protocol, OBFT protocol.
Public key
A definition of a term
Redeemer
The argument to the validator script which is provided by the transaction which spends a script output.
Reward
An amount contained in each new block that is paid out to the stakeholder by the network.
Rewards wallet
A wallet that stores ada which can be used in stake delegation. The stake from a single Rewards wallet can only be delegated to a single stake pool.
SatoshiLabs
Established in late 2013, SatoshiLabs is a company full of experienced specialists founded by two of the leading personalities in the crypto community.
Satoshi
The smallest unit of Bitcoin, equal to 0.00000001 BTC.
Saturation
A term used to indicate that a particular stake pool has more stake delegated to it than is ideal for the network.
Schema
The set of all endpoints of a contract application.
Script output
A UTXO locked by a script.
Script
A generic term for an executable program in the ledger. In the Cardano blockchain, these are written in Plutus Core.
Securitization
The process of creating liquid, asset-backed securities from pools of illiquid assets.
Security token
A digital asset that derives its value from an external asset that can be traded.
Shelly
Second phase of Cardano development in which network decentralization will be delivered.
Slot leader
Elected node that has been selected to create a block within the current slot. A random election process occurs based on the proportional stake.
Slot
A fixed period of time within an epoch.
Smart contract
An automated agreement, written in code, that tracks, verifies, and executes the binding transactions of a contract between various parties.
Stablecoin
A cryptocurrency that attempts to offer stability and generally (preferably) backed by a reserve asset. USD Tether and USD Coin are examples of stablecoins backed by US dollars.
Stake Pool Alliance
An alliance of stake pool operators on the Cardano blockchain.
Stake pool operator (SPO)
The person(s) or organization(s) operating a stake pool.
Stake pool performance
A measure of the efficiency of a stake pool, given as a percentage, is measured by how many blocks the stake pool has produced (and that are recorded on the main chain) compared to how many it was nominated to produce.
Stake pool profit margin
The percentage of total ada rewards that the stake pool operator takes before sharing the rest of the rewards between all the delegators to the pool.
Stake pool
A reliable block-producing server node that holds the combined stake of various stakeholders in a single entity, or pool, on the Cardano network.
Staking
The process by which Ada owners can participate in the network and earn rewards by delegating the stake associated with their Ada holdings to a stake pool.
Sybil Attack
Sybil Attack is a type of attack seen in peer-to-peer networks in which a node in the network operates multiple identities actively at the same time and undermines the authority/power in reputation systems.
Testnet
A test network where users can experiment with new features and code and provide their feedback before a live mainnet launch.
Token minting
The process of creating new tokens.
Token
A cryptographic token that represents a footprint of value defined by the community, market state, or self-governed entity. A token can be fungible or non-fungible, and act as a payment unit, reward, trading asset, or information holder.
Tokenization
The process of representing real-world assets with digital tokens.
TPS
Transaction per second
Trezor wallet
Trezor Wallet is an easy-to-use browser interface for the Trezor device powered by SatoshiLabs.
Trezor
Trezor (or Trezor device) is the original and most trusted cryptocurrency hardware wallet designed and marketed by SatoshiLabs.
Trusted peer
Other trusted nodes in the network.
Utility token
A digital token that holds certain functionality in regards to a concrete project or environment. These tokens can be used as payment units, rewards, or grant access to a specific network.
UTXO
UTXO stands for “Unspent Transaction Output”. In cryptocurrencies, a UTXO is an abstraction of electronic money. Each UTXO is analogous to a coin, and holds a certain amount of value in its respective currency.
Validator context
A data structure containing a summary of the transaction being validated, and the current input whose validator is being run.
Validator script
The script attached to a script output in the Extended UTXO model.
Voltaire
The fifth phase of Cardano development in which treasury and governance capabilities will be delivered.
Whale 🐋
A whale is defined as a person or organization that owns a large amount of a particular cryptocurrency.
Yoroi
A light wallet for Cardano that is used to manage Ada balances and conduct transactions. A simple, fast, and secure wallet for daily use purposes that is developed by Emurgo. More information.
Zero knowledge proof
In cryptography, a zero-knowledge proof enables one party to provide evidence that a transaction or event happened without revealing private details of that transaction or event.
What is a DApp?
General purpose of Decentralized applications
HODL
The term HODL refers to buy-and-hold strategies adopted by members of bitcoin and other cryptocurrency communities.
Proof of Resiliency
A Short Story of true resiliency and decentralization
Register Minting Policy on pool.pm
A guide on how to register your token's minting policy
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