GLOSSARYINDEX

Glossary

Glossary of philatelic and blockchain terminology used across crypto stamp issuers and editions. 30 terms.

2D Datamatrix Stamps
Category
Philatelic
Definition
"Barcoded stamps" with 2D Datamatrix code for security + video content. **NOT a crypto stamp in the wiki sense** — no blockchain, no NFT. Royal Mail UK February 2022, later adopted by others.
ANK-Nummer
Category
Philatelic
Definition
Catalog number from the Austria Netto Katalog (ANK), the standard identifier for Austrian postage stamps in collector contexts.
Atomic Hub
Category
Issuer-specific
Definition
Wax blockchain-based NFT platform — structural alternative to Polygon- and Tezos-based postal service platforms. No verified postal service application in the current wiki research.
Bitcoin Pizza Day (22 May)
Category
General
Definition
Crypto community holiday (22 May). Commemorates Laszlo Hanyecz's first commercial BTC transaction 2010: 2 pizzas for 10,000 BTC. Gibraltar launched its 2021 stamp during Bitcoin Pizza Day week.
Ciphers.me
Category
Blockchain
Definition
NFT platform for crypto stamps, founded 2022 by Royal Joh. Enschedé, ProxID, and Concordium. Largest customer: Deutsche Post (5 "Historische Bauwerke" editions). Polygon + Concordium ID layer.
Coinsilium Group Limited
Category
Issuer-specific
Definition
Listed British blockchain investment firm headquartered in Gibraltar (AQSE: COIN). Went public as a blockchain firm in 2015. Main tech partner for Gibraltar crypto stamps.
Cross-Country Gold Edition
Category
Philatelic
Definition
Premium format of joint editions: three postal services emit parallel gold variants with 1g gold bars from the Austrian Mint. First application: Lion Gold Trilateral 2023 (AT, NL, LU).
Cyberstamps (Guernsey Post)
Category
Philatelic
Definition
Guernsey Post's reimagining after crypto-stamp cancellation: physical stamp + digital verification code, **WITHOUT blockchain/NFT**. Launch 16.07.2025. NOT a crypto stamp in the wiki sense.
GFSC — Guernsey Financial Services Commission
Category
General
Definition
Financial supervisor of Crown Dependency Guernsey (banking/insurance/VASPs). Classified Guernsey Posts 2024 planned crypto stamps as virtual assets under LCF Law 2022 → programme halted.
Immutable X (Ethereum Layer-2)
Category
Blockchain
Definition
Ethereum Layer-2 with StarkEx ZK rollup for gas-free NFTs. Developed by Immutable Pty Ltd (Australia). Blockchain of the VeVe platform → USPS Stamp Art editions since November 2021.
Inverse-Fame-Tiered
Category
Philatelic
Definition
Mintage mechanic: more famous motifs (players/personalities) have smaller mintages, less famous have larger — scarcity inversely correlated to fame.
Joint Edition
Category
Philatelic
Definition
Crypto stamp edition emitted simultaneously by multiple postal services with shared motif and national variation — the defining format of the "Crypto Stamp Family" 2022-2025.
LCF Law 2022 — Lending, Credit and Finance (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law
Category
General
Definition
Guernsey 2022 law regulating VASPs in the Bailiwick (FATF/Moneyval compliance). Applied by GFSC in 2024 to classify Guernsey Post planned crypto stamps as virtual assets → programme halted.
Mini-Sheet Format
Category
Philatelic
Definition
Crypto stamp format where multiple stamps (typically 16) are sold on one sheet with a shared activation code as inseparable unit — connecting sheet tradition with NFT mechanic.
Mint Coin Set
Category
Philatelic
Definition
Crypto stamp + coin as connected collector item, manufactured in cooperation between a postal service and a state mint. First application: CS Digitalisierung 2025 (AT).
Morphing
Category
Blockchain
Definition
NFT transformation mechanic: two crypto stamp NFTs are combined to create a new unique NFT — the process is permanent and irreversible.
Münze Österreich
Category
Issuer-specific
Definition
Official state mint of Austria, founded 1989 as successor of k.u.k. Hauptmünze (1397) — cross-industry partner for premium crypto stamps with gold/silver components.
Mystery Box Mechanic
Category
Blockchain
Definition
Collector mechanic where the specific variant or rarity tier of a crypto stamp NFT only becomes visible after activation.
Parallel-Identical
Category
Philatelic
Definition
Format mechanic of joint editions: same basic design, emitted in parallel by multiple postal services, with national differentiation in face value, color, and background.
Polygon Blockchain
Category
Blockchain
Definition
Ethereum layer-2 scaling solution on which most crypto stamp NFTs are stored — standard blockchain for all AT joint editions since 2022.
RSK / Rootstock (Bitcoin Sidechain)
Category
Blockchain
Definition
Bitcoin sidechain with smart contracts, secured via merge-mining. EVM-compatible. Parent: IOV Labs. Only Bitcoin-based crypto-stamp blockchain — used by Gibraltar's Cryptocurrency Stamp 2021.
Split-Halves
Category
Philatelic
Definition
A crypto stamp motif split into two halves — each half is its own collector component, both united yield the full image or NFT. First applied in **CHLI 2.0** (2025).
StampFinity
Category
Issuer-specific
Definition
Crypto stamp brand of Variuscard GmbH (Vienna), same address as sister firm VariusSystems. Used by Guernsey Post 2025/26 and Australia Post 2026; wiki label for the Variuscard stack.
StampsDaq
Category
Issuer-specific
Definition
Estonian tech startup (Ethereum sidechain) operating the Portuguese CTT Caravela 2023 and the Gibraltar Football Mini Sheet 2024 — multi-issuer alternative to the AT-centered Variuscard.
Tiered by Color
Category
Philatelic
Definition
Collector mechanic: same crypto stamp in multiple color variants with tiered mintage and premium logic (typically: red/rainbow = rarest, black = most common).
Variuscard
Category
Issuer-specific
Definition
Vienna tech company operating the central crypto stamp platform (cryptostamp.com) of the AT-centred joint family; owner of the StampFinity brand, sister company of VariusSystems.
VeVe (Mobile NFT Platform)
Category
Issuer-specific
Definition
Mobile-first NFT platform (app-only) by ECOMI Limited (NZ) on Immutable X. Main partner for USPS Stamp Art since Nov 2021. Mintage occurs at each user purchase, not at edition launch.
Weather Oracle
Category
Blockchain
Definition
Crypto stamp mechanic where current weather at collector-chosen activation time determines NFT rarity — real-world data as collector experience. First issued: **Posta Føroya** Stamps of Maybe (2023).
Wertstufe 3 World
Category
Issuer-specific
Definition
Belgian tariff code face value for non-standardized international letters up to 100g (except BE/EU) — standard face value of all Bpost crypto stamps instead of numerical euro face value.
Wertstufe R (Aangetekend)
Category
Issuer-specific
Definition
Dutch tariff code face value for registered mail (Aangetekend) up to 20g — standard face value of all PostNL crypto stamps instead of a numerical euro face value.

Term	Category	Definition
2D Datamatrix Stamps	Philatelic	"Barcoded stamps" with 2D Datamatrix code for security + video content. NOT a crypto stamp in the wiki sense — no blockchain, no NFT. Royal Mail UK February 2022, later adopted by others.
ANK-Nummer	Philatelic	Catalog number from the Austria Netto Katalog (ANK), the standard identifier for Austrian postage stamps in collector contexts.
Atomic Hub	Issuer-specific	Wax blockchain-based NFT platform — structural alternative to Polygon- and Tezos-based postal service platforms. No verified postal service application in the current wiki research.
Bitcoin Pizza Day (22 May)	General	Crypto community holiday (22 May). Commemorates Laszlo Hanyecz's first commercial BTC transaction 2010: 2 pizzas for 10,000 BTC. Gibraltar launched its 2021 stamp during Bitcoin Pizza Day week.
Ciphers.me	Blockchain	NFT platform for crypto stamps, founded 2022 by Royal Joh. Enschedé, ProxID, and Concordium. Largest customer: Deutsche Post (5 "Historische Bauwerke" editions). Polygon + Concordium ID layer.
Coinsilium Group Limited	Issuer-specific	Listed British blockchain investment firm headquartered in Gibraltar (AQSE: COIN). Went public as a blockchain firm in 2015. Main tech partner for Gibraltar crypto stamps.
Cross-Country Gold Edition	Philatelic	Premium format of joint editions: three postal services emit parallel gold variants with 1g gold bars from the Austrian Mint. First application: Lion Gold Trilateral 2023 (AT, NL, LU).
Cyberstamps (Guernsey Post)	Philatelic	Guernsey Post's reimagining after crypto-stamp cancellation: physical stamp + digital verification code, WITHOUT blockchain/NFT. Launch 16.07.2025. NOT a crypto stamp in the wiki sense.
GFSC — Guernsey Financial Services Commission	General	Financial supervisor of Crown Dependency Guernsey (banking/insurance/VASPs). Classified Guernsey Posts 2024 planned crypto stamps as virtual assets under LCF Law 2022 → programme halted.
Immutable X (Ethereum Layer-2)	Blockchain	Ethereum Layer-2 with StarkEx ZK rollup for gas-free NFTs. Developed by Immutable Pty Ltd (Australia). Blockchain of the VeVe platform → USPS Stamp Art editions since November 2021.
Inverse-Fame-Tiered	Philatelic	Mintage mechanic: more famous motifs (players/personalities) have smaller mintages, less famous have larger — scarcity inversely correlated to fame.
Joint Edition	Philatelic	Crypto stamp edition emitted simultaneously by multiple postal services with shared motif and national variation — the defining format of the "Crypto Stamp Family" 2022-2025.
LCF Law 2022 — Lending, Credit and Finance (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law	General	Guernsey 2022 law regulating VASPs in the Bailiwick (FATF/Moneyval compliance). Applied by GFSC in 2024 to classify Guernsey Post planned crypto stamps as virtual assets → programme halted.
Mini-Sheet Format	Philatelic	Crypto stamp format where multiple stamps (typically 16) are sold on one sheet with a shared activation code as inseparable unit — connecting sheet tradition with NFT mechanic.
Mint Coin Set	Philatelic	Crypto stamp + coin as connected collector item, manufactured in cooperation between a postal service and a state mint. First application: CS Digitalisierung 2025 (AT).
Morphing	Blockchain	NFT transformation mechanic: two crypto stamp NFTs are combined to create a new unique NFT — the process is permanent and irreversible.
Münze Österreich	Issuer-specific	Official state mint of Austria, founded 1989 as successor of k.u.k. Hauptmünze (1397) — cross-industry partner for premium crypto stamps with gold/silver components.
Mystery Box Mechanic	Blockchain	Collector mechanic where the specific variant or rarity tier of a crypto stamp NFT only becomes visible after activation.
Parallel-Identical	Philatelic	Format mechanic of joint editions: same basic design, emitted in parallel by multiple postal services, with national differentiation in face value, color, and background.
Polygon Blockchain	Blockchain	Ethereum layer-2 scaling solution on which most crypto stamp NFTs are stored — standard blockchain for all AT joint editions since 2022.
RSK / Rootstock (Bitcoin Sidechain)	Blockchain	Bitcoin sidechain with smart contracts, secured via merge-mining. EVM-compatible. Parent: IOV Labs. Only Bitcoin-based crypto-stamp blockchain — used by Gibraltar's Cryptocurrency Stamp 2021.
Split-Halves	Philatelic	A crypto stamp motif split into two halves — each half is its own collector component, both united yield the full image or NFT. First applied in CHLI 2.0 (2025).
StampFinity	Issuer-specific	Crypto stamp brand of Variuscard GmbH (Vienna), same address as sister firm VariusSystems. Used by Guernsey Post 2025/26 and Australia Post 2026; wiki label for the Variuscard stack.
StampsDaq	Issuer-specific	Estonian tech startup (Ethereum sidechain) operating the Portuguese CTT Caravela 2023 and the Gibraltar Football Mini Sheet 2024 — multi-issuer alternative to the AT-centered Variuscard.
Tiered by Color	Philatelic	Collector mechanic: same crypto stamp in multiple color variants with tiered mintage and premium logic (typically: red/rainbow = rarest, black = most common).
Variuscard	Issuer-specific	Vienna tech company operating the central crypto stamp platform (cryptostamp.com) of the AT-centred joint family; owner of the StampFinity brand, sister company of VariusSystems.
VeVe (Mobile NFT Platform)	Issuer-specific	Mobile-first NFT platform (app-only) by ECOMI Limited (NZ) on Immutable X. Main partner for USPS Stamp Art since Nov 2021. Mintage occurs at each user purchase, not at edition launch.
Weather Oracle	Blockchain	Crypto stamp mechanic where current weather at collector-chosen activation time determines NFT rarity — real-world data as collector experience. First issued: Posta Føroya Stamps of Maybe (2023).
Wertstufe 3 World	Issuer-specific	Belgian tariff code face value for non-standardized international letters up to 100g (except BE/EU) — standard face value of all Bpost crypto stamps instead of numerical euro face value.
Wertstufe R (Aangetekend)	Issuer-specific	Dutch tariff code face value for registered mail (Aangetekend) up to 20g — standard face value of all PostNL crypto stamps instead of a numerical euro face value.

showing 30 terms