Data Archiving

Definition ∞ Data Archiving is the systematic process of relocating inactive data from primary storage to a long-term retention solution. This practice is implemented for regulatory compliance, historical record maintenance, and operational cost reduction, ensuring data availability for future access while optimizing active storage resources. Archived data is typically stored in a format suitable for eventual retrieval.
Context ∞ Within the context of blockchain and digital assets, Data Archiving is relevant for preserving historical transaction records, smart contract states, and off-chain data associated with decentralized applications. The challenge involves balancing efficient data retrieval with the immutable and distributed characteristics of blockchain storage, particularly for audit and regulatory compliance requirements.