Fork

Blockchain

A distributed, immutable digital ledger that records transactions across a network of computers without a central authority.

Distributed Ledger Technology

A digital system for recording, sharing, and synchronising data across multiple sites without a central administrator.

Consensus Mechanism

The method by which a distributed network agrees on the current state of the ledger and validates transactions.

Proof of Work

A consensus mechanism requiring computational effort to validate transactions and create new blocks, used by Bitcoin.

Proof of Stake

A consensus mechanism where validators are selected based on the amount of cryptocurrency they hold and stake.

Delegated Proof of Stake

A consensus mechanism where token holders vote for delegates who validate transactions on their behalf.

Byzantine Fault Tolerance

The ability of a distributed system to reach consensus despite some nodes acting maliciously or failing.

Merkle Tree

A hash-based data structure that efficiently verifies the integrity and consistency of large sets of data.

Hash Function

A mathematical function that converts input data of any size into a fixed-size output, used extensively in blockchain security.

Cryptographic Hash

A one-way function producing a fixed-length output that is computationally infeasible to reverse or find collisions for.

Public Key Cryptography

An encryption system using mathematically linked key pairs — a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption.

Digital Signature

A cryptographic mechanism that verifies the authenticity and integrity of digital messages or documents.

The analysis of blockchain transaction data to trace asset flows, identify illicit activity, and support regulatory compliance using graph analysis and clustering techniques.

A separate blockchain connected to a main chain through a two-way bridge, allowing assets to move between them.

A radical change to a blockchain's protocol that makes previously invalid blocks or transactions valid, requiring all nodes to upgrade.

A unique digital asset on a blockchain that represents ownership of a specific item, artwork, or piece of content.

Digital currency embedded with executable logic that can enforce spending conditions, automate payments, and integrate with smart contracts for conditional financial operations.

The maximum profit that can be extracted from block production by reordering, inserting, or censoring transactions, a fundamental economic phenomenon in blockchain networks.

Self-executing programs stored on a blockchain that automatically enforce the terms of an agreement when conditions are met.

An application that runs on a decentralised peer-to-peer network rather than a single centralised server.