Decentralized Ledger

Definition ∞ A decentralized ledger is a distributed database managed across multiple participants. This system records transactions and asset ownership in a verifiable and immutable manner without central authority. Participants collectively maintain and validate the ledger’s integrity, ensuring transparency and resistance to censorship. Its architecture prevents a single point of failure, enhancing security and operational continuity for digital assets.
Context ∞ The ongoing discourse around decentralized ledgers often centers on their scalability limitations versus their security advantages. Regulatory bodies worldwide are actively assessing how these distributed systems fit into existing financial frameworks, impacting market adoption. Developments in sharding and layer-2 solutions aim to address transaction throughput, a frequent topic in crypto news. The technology’s application beyond finance, such as in supply chain management, also garners significant attention.