Full Node

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.

A computer connected to a blockchain network that maintains a copy of the ledger and participates in consensus.

Scaling solutions built on top of a base blockchain that process transactions off-chain while inheriting security from the main chain.

The process of using computational power to validate transactions and add new blocks to a proof-of-work blockchain.

A fixed-income security issued and managed on blockchain infrastructure, automating coupon payments, settlement, and transfer of ownership through smart contracts.

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

The runtime environment for executing smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain network.

Networks that use blockchain token incentives to coordinate the deployment and operation of physical infrastructure such as wireless networks, energy grids, and compute resources.

A service that provides smart contracts with verified external data from off-chain sources such as market prices, weather conditions, and real-world events.