A decentralized network where participants communicate and transact directly with one another without relying on a central server or intermediary.

A blockchain that is restricted to a specific group of participants. Only authorized users can read, write, or validate transactions. Private blockchains are often used by companies or organizations for internal purposes.

A secret, unique string of letters and numbers that gives you full control over your cryptocurrency or digital assets. Never share your private key with anyone!

A cryptographic timekeeping mechanism used by the Solana blockchain to create a verifiable, ordered record of events before they are processed by the network’s consensus system. By proving that a specific amount of time has passed between transactions, Proof of History enables faster transaction validation and high network throughput without relying solely on traditional consensus methods.

A consensus mechanism where validators are chosen to create new blocks based on the amount of cryptocurrency they “stake,” or lock up as collateral. PoS is energy-efficient compared to Proof-of-Work.

A consensus mechanism where miners solve complex mathematical problems to validate transactions and add blocks to the blockchain. PoW is known to use significant computational power and energy.

A set of rules that defines how a blockchain, network, or application operates. Protocols determine how transactions are verified, blocks are created, and participants interact.

A blockchain that anyone can access, read, and participate in. Public blockchains are fully decentralized, meaning there is no single entity controlling them. Bitcoin and Ethereum are examples.