Encyclopedia

Reference definitions for the concepts, institutions, legal structures, and technical terms that define Crypto Valley and the broader Swiss blockchain landscape.

Blockchain terminology is notoriously imprecise. Terms such as “token,” “protocol,” and “decentralised” carry different meanings in technical, legal, and commercial contexts, and this ambiguity creates genuine confusion for investors, policymakers, and new entrants to the ecosystem. The ZUG BLOCKCHAIN Encyclopedia provides standardised definitions grounded in Swiss legal and regulatory usage, with cross-references to FINMA classifications, the DLT Act, and established technical specifications.

Entries cover four principal categories. Technical terms: consensus mechanisms, smart contract standards, Layer 1 and Layer 2 architectures, and cryptographic primitives. Legal and regulatory terms: FINMA token classifications (payment, utility, asset), the DLT securities framework, self-regulatory organisation structures, and cantonal tax treatment. Institutional entries: profiles of regulatory bodies (FINMA, SBA, SIF), industry associations (Crypto Valley Association, Swiss Blockchain Federation), and key infrastructure providers. Structural terms: Swiss corporate forms relevant to blockchain (Stiftung, Verein, AG, GmbH) and their typical applications in the ecosystem.

Each definition is written for an informed professional audience and aims for precision over accessibility. Where Swiss usage diverges from international convention – as with the specific legal meaning of “tokenised security” under the DLT Act – the distinction is noted explicitly.