Distributed Ledger
A database shared and synchronized across multiple locations, institutions, or geographies without central administration.
In-Depth Explanation
Distributed ledgers maintain identical copies across nodes, with consensus mechanisms ensuring agreement. Blockchains are one type of distributed ledger, but not all distributed ledgers are blockchains (some use DAGs or other structures). The distributed nature eliminates single points of failure and central control.
Related Terms
Blockchain
A distributed, immutable ledger that records transactions across a network of computers using cryptographic linking.
Consensus Mechanism
The method by which a blockchain network agrees on the current state of the ledger and validates new transactions.
Node
A computer running blockchain software that maintains a copy of the ledger and helps validate/relay transactions.
More in Infrastructure
View all →Gas Fees
Transaction fees paid to validators/miners for executing operations on a blockchain.
Gwei
A denomination of Ether equal to one billionth of an ETH, commonly used to express gas prices.
Layer 2
L2Scaling solutions built on top of a base blockchain (L1) that process transactions off-chain while inheriting L1 security.
Layer 1
L1The base blockchain that provides security and consensus, such as Ethereum, Bitcoin, or Solana.