Unbanked
People without access to a bank account, a group crypto advocates often cite as a target for financial inclusion.
Roughly 1.4 billion adults worldwide have no bank account, by World Bank estimates, often because they live far from a branch or lack documents. The pitch is that a phone and a wallet can replace one.
The reality is mixed. Crypto needs internet access and a way to convert to local cash, which many of these users lack. Stablecoins and mobile money have made more headway than volatile coins. The term shows up often in industry marketing, sometimes more than in measured results.
Related terms
A crypto token designed to hold a steady value, almost always pegged one-to-one with the US dollar.
Self-CustodyHolding your own private keys directly, so no exchange or company stands between you and your crypto.
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)A digital form of a country's official currency, issued and controlled directly by its central bank.
FiatGovernment-issued money like the US dollar or euro, backed by state authority rather than gold or any commodity.