Block and Block Height
A block is a collection of transactions recorded on a blockchain, and block height is the sequential number of a block in the chain, starting from the genesis block.
What is Block and Block Height?
A block is a fundamental component of a blockchain, serving as a digital container that holds a set of verified transactions. Each block is cryptographically linked to the previous one, forming a secure, chronological chain.
It typically includes a header with metadata (like a timestamp, nonce, and previous block’s hash) and a body containing the transaction data. For example, in Bitcoin, a block is created approximately every 10 minutes and can store up to 1 MB of transaction data, though this varies by blockchain.
Block height refers to the position of a block in the blockchain, counted as the number of blocks from the genesis block (the first block, at height 0). For instance, the 100th block in a blockchain has a block height of 100.
Related Terms
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Fast Payment Systems
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BIS Stablecoin Principles
Bank for International Settlements' guidelines stressing regulation for stablecoins to mitigate financial stability risks and ensure they function as sound money.
Base Chain
Coinbase's Ethereum Layer 2 network built on the OP Stack, optimized for on-chain applications and developer accessibility.
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Circulating Supply
The total number of a digital asset's tokens or coins that are publicly available and actively circulating in the market.