Glossary

Roux the Basics glossary: plain-English definitions of the tech, crypto, energy and economic development terms that come up in GeauxTech's Louisiana coverage.

Accelerator

A program that gives early-stage startups mentoring, connections and sometimes a small investment over a fixed period, usually a few months.

Angel investor

An individual who invests personal money in early-stage companies, often in exchange for equity.

Blockchain

A shared digital ledger kept in sync across many computers, so records are hard to alter after the fact.

CBDC (central bank digital currency)

A digital currency issued by a government's central bank. Louisiana's Act 700 of 2024 bars state and local governments from accepting or testing one.

Combined-cycle gas plant

A power plant that burns natural gas in a turbine, then uses the waste heat to make steam that drives a second generator.

Controllable electronic record

The UCC Article 12 term for a digital record, such as many digital assets, that one party can control exclusively. Louisiana adopted Article 12 in 2024.

Crypto kiosk

A machine, often called a crypto or bitcoin ATM, that converts cash or card payments into cryptocurrency.

Data center

A building full of servers that store and process data. AI data centers use specialized chips and large amounts of electricity.

Docket

The official case file for a request before a regulator such as the Public Service Commission.

Evidentiary hearing

A trial-like proceeding where witnesses testify and are cross-examined before a judge or commission.

Expropriation

The legal process for taking private property for public use, with compensation to the owner.

Intervenor

An outside party that a regulator allows to formally participate in a case.

LED

Louisiana Economic Development, the state's economic development agency.

LPSC

The Louisiana Public Service Commission, the five-member elected body that regulates investor-owned utilities.

NDA (nondisclosure agreement)

A contract that bars the signers from revealing certain information, used in economic development to keep project details private before announcement.

OFI

The Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions, which licenses virtual currency businesses.

SBIR

Small Business Innovation Research, a federal program that funds research at small businesses through grants, without taking equity.

Self-hosted wallet

A crypto wallet where the user holds the private keys instead of a company holding them.

Small modular reactor (SMR)

A nuclear reactor designed to be smaller than conventional plants, with major parts built in a factory.

SSBCI

The federal State Small Business Credit Initiative. Louisiana received $113 million and uses much of it to co-invest in local venture funds.

Staking

Locking up crypto tokens to help secure a blockchain network in exchange for rewards.

Subpoena

A legal order to produce documents or testimony.

Tokenization

Representing ownership of an asset, like a bond or property interest, as a digital token on a blockchain.

Venture capital

Investment in young, high-growth companies in exchange for equity, usually from professional funds.