Skip to content
BTC Loading ETH Loading SOL Loading
New to crypto? Start here
Explainers — how crypto actually works

Mei-Lin Toh

Takes the ideas behind crypto apart and puts them back together in plain English — what a blockchain is actually doing, what a token represents, and which parts a beginner can safely ignore for now.

A standing byline of the Bright Start News desk, not an individual journalist. Everything published under it is written and edited by the desk, which is accountable for it.

9 articles Writing for Bright Start News since Aug 2026

Covers Crypto basics, Blockchains, Tokens and coins, Reading the news

Our standards Editorial Guidelines How we work Corrections

Latest from Mei-Lin

Explained 2 min read

What Are Gas Fees, and Why Do They Change?

In plain English The same transaction can cost pennies at a quiet moment and a great deal more at a busy one. Checking before you send can save real money.

Explained 2 min read

What Exchange Listings Actually Mean

In plain English A listing on a larger, more reputable exchange generally makes a token easier to buy and sell, and can bring a wave of new attention and trading activity. …

Explained 2 min read

What a Volatile Week in Crypto Actually Looks Like

In plain English If you are holding crypto, this kind of week can feel alarming to watch, especially if it is your first time experiencing it. It is also, by crypto's own historical standards, fairly ordinary.

Explained 2 min read

What Is DeFi (Decentralized Finance)?

In plain English You can, in principle, lend, borrow, or trade crypto through software running on a blockchain rather than through a bank or brokerage. …

Explained 2 min read

What Is Staking?

In plain English If you hold certain cryptocurrencies, you may be able to lock them up to help secure the network they run on, in exchange for rewards paid in more of that same coin. …

Explained 3 min read

What Is a Crypto Wallet?

In plain English You need somewhere to hold crypto once you own any, and which kind of wallet you choose decides whether an exchange holds the keys for you, or only you do. …