This living document is a non-exhaustive list of key blockchain terms. Click through on each term for a longer explanation.
Block height is the current block number in the blockchain. By measuring the current 'height' of a blockchain, one can see the progress that the network is making.
A block is the primary element of a blockchain; it is where transaction data is permanently recorded and stored.
What it means to power blockchain infrastructure on proof of stake networks, and how a blockchain infrastructure platform-as-a service-provider does it.
A blockchain is a form of peer-to-peer network which uses cryptographic hash functions to build an unchangeable, distributed ledger.
Byzantine fault tolerance is a mechanism that enables a decentralized, trustless network to function even in the presence of malfunctioning or malicious nodes.
Kusama is considered a canary network, an experimental blockchain environment with real economic conditions. It serves as a proving ground where developers can build and deploy products, services, and other code functionality for the Polkadot ecosystem.
Blockchain client types have different uses within the context of a network. Examining the differences between the four basic client types can help you choose the right type for your needs.
A cluster is a network-specific node(s) and its supporting infrastructure, such as load balancing tools and monitoring and alerting services.
A consensus method, or consensus algorithm, is the system used by blockchain network participants (validator nodes) to come to agreement on what information will be permanently stored in the blockchain. The consensus method defines how participants verify transactions, in order to achieve distributed (group) consensus on the validity of the data stored in the blockchain.
Cryptographic primitives, or crypto primitives, are low-level cryptographic algorithms that form the basic building blocks of a protocol.
A decentralized application (sometimes called a Dapp) is a piece of software that communicates with a blockchain (or other P2P network) using a smart contract as its business logic.
DeFi stands for decentralized finance and represents a category of financial products and services built on blockchain technology. DeFi does not use intermediaries like traditional financial products and services and therefore has the potential to make financial systems more accessible to the people of the world.
Digital signatures are requirements for any working blockchain; their attributes are of paramount importance and can profoundly impact the characteristics of a blockchain.
An epoch is an era of time within a blockchain network.
A non-exhaustive list of key terms to understand the eth2 protocol, as defined by the Bison Trails Protocol Ops Team.
A mainnet is a fully deployed and developed protocol in which transactions are broadcast, verified, and recorded onto the blockchain.
What’s the difference between a protocol and a network? Why are digital assets sometimes tokens and sometimes coins? A look at the language of blockchain basics.
Proof of stake validation is a blockchain consensus method.
Proof of work is a blockchain consensus method.
Slashing is a mechanism built into proof of stake blockchain protocols to discourage validator misbehavior.
A smart contract is a self-executing program on a blockchain that controls and/or documents legal events or actions according to preset terms.
A stablecoin is a digital asset designed so its value experiences minimal volatility, or fluctuation in value, over time.
A blockchain’s state is its formal status at a given point in time, including what information it contains and who is participating in it.
Substrate is the modular blockchain framework on which Edgeware and Kusama are built, and the foundation for the whole Polkadot ecosystem.
A Sybil Attack is a common form of attack on a blockchain network. Sybil Attacks, a familiar threat for peer-to-peer networks, are attacks in which a malicious entity takes over control of a network by creating a large number of mirroring pseudonymous entities, thus enabling the attacker to seize control of voting or consensus mechanisms.
Tendermint is software for securely and consistently replicating an application on many machines.
A testnet is a trial version of a blockchain used to identify bugs and other issues.
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Bison Trails is a blockchain infrastructure platform-as-a-service (PaaS) company based in New York City. We built a platform for anyone who wants to participate in 22 new chains effortlessly.
We also make it easy for anyone building Web 3.0 applications to connect to blockchain data from 30 protocols with Query & Transact (QT). Our goal is for the entire blockchain ecosystem to flourish by providing robust infrastructure for the pioneers of tomorrow.
In January, 2021, we announced Bison Trails joined Coinbase to accelerate our mission to provide easy-to-use blockchain infrastructure, now as a standalone product line. The Bison Trails platform will continue to support our customers. With Coinbase’s backing, we will enhance our infrastructure platform and make it even easier to participate in decentralized networks and build applications that connect to blockchain data.
