Glossary
Unbonding Period
A waiting period between deciding to unstake and being able to withdraw, used to keep stake locked.
An unbonding period is a queue between an unstake request and actual withdrawal. It exists so a validator who misbehaves can still be slashed before their funds leave.
The length is set per network and can range from days to weeks. During that window the tokens are earning nothing and cannot be sold, which makes them different from assets you could exit at any time.
Stakers planning to react to a price move need to account for it. A position that is liquid on the chart may be unavailable for two weeks after the decision to sell.
Related terms
Airdrop
Free tokens distributed to wallet addresses, usually to reward early users of a protocol.
AMM
Automated Market Maker — a protocol that prices assets with a formula instead of an order book.
APR vs APY
APR is the yearly rate without compounding; APY includes compounding and is always higher.
ATH
All-Time High — the highest price an asset has ever traded at.
Bear Market
A prolonged decline, conventionally 20% or more from recent highs.
Bull Market
A prolonged rise driven by new demand, easy credit and rising confidence.