D fintech glossary terms

DAO

Organization represented by rules encoded as a computer program.

DAO Proposal

Suggestion submitted to a DAO for voting.

DApp

Decentralized Application running on a blockchain.

Dark Data

Data collected but not used.

Dark Pool

Private exchange for trading securities.

Dark Web

Encrypted network not indexed by search engines.

Data Availability

Guarantee that data is published.

Data Breach

Security incident exposing confidential information.

Data Lake

Storage for raw data.

Data Mining

Discovering patterns in large datasets.

Data Visualization

Graphical representation of information and data.

Data Warehouse

System for data reporting.

Database

Organized collection of data.

Day Trading

Buying and selling same day.

DCA

Dollar Cost Averaging.

DCF

Discounted Cash Flow.

Dead Cat Bounce

Temporary recovery in a bear market.

Deadlock

Processes waiting for each other.

Debit

Entry recording an amount owed.

Decentralization

Transfer of authority from central entity.

Decentralized Exchange (DEX)

Exchange operating without a central authority.

Decentralized Identifier (DID)

Self-sovereign digital identity on blockchain.

Decentralized Identity

Identity owned by user.

Decryption

Decoding information.

Deductible

Amount paid out of pocket before insurance covers.

Deduction

Amount subtracted from taxable income.

Deep Learning

ML using neural networks with multiple layers.

Deepfake

AI-generated synthetic media that imitates a real person's face or voice and is increasingly relevant to identity fraud, impersonation, and KYC controls.

Default

Failure to repay a loan.

Defensive Stock

Stock stable in downturn.

DeFi

Decentralized Finance; financial services without intermediaries.

Deficit

Spending exceeds revenue.

Deflation

Decrease in the general price level of goods and services.

Demand

Desire to buy goods.

DePin

Decentralized Physical Infra.

Deployment

Making software available for use.

Deposit

Money placed in a bank account.

Depreciation

Allocating cost of tangible assets over useful life.

Depression

Severe and prolonged recession.

Derivative

Contract deriving value from an underlying asset.

Design Pattern

Reusable solution to common problems.

Devaluation

Official lowering of currency value.

DevOps

Practices combining software development and IT operations.

DEX

Decentralized Exchange.

DEX Aggregator

Service finding best swap rates.

Difficulty

How hard it is to mine a block.

Difficulty Adjustment

Changing mining difficulty to keep block time constant.

Digital Asset

Intangible asset in digital form.

Digital Banking

Banking services delivered digitally without physical branches.

Digital Signature

Mathematical scheme for verifying authenticity.

Direct Debit

Automatic payment from bank account.

Direct Listing

Listing without IPO underwriters.

Distributed Ledger

Database shared across network.

Diversification

Spreading investments to reduce risk.

Dividend

Distribution of profits by a corporation to its shareholders.

Dividend Aristocrat

Company increasing dividends 25y.

Dividend Yield

Dividend per share divided by price.

DNS

Domain Name System.

Docker

Platform for developing and running containerized apps.

Dodd-Frank

US financial reform act.

Double Entry

Every entry has a debit and credit.

Dow Jones

Index of 30 major US stocks.

DPoS

Delegated Proof of Stake.

DSO

Days Sales Outstanding.

Due Diligence

Comprehensive appraisal of a business.

Duration

Sensitivity of bond price to interest rates.

Dust Attack

Sending tiny amounts of crypto to track wallets.

Dusting Attack

Sending tiny crypto to track user.

DYOR

Do Your Own Research.