Micro-Transactions

Definition ∞ Micro-transactions are very small financial exchanges, often involving fractions of a currency unit, for digital goods, services, or content. Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies are particularly suited for these small-value transfers due to lower processing fees compared to traditional systems. These transactions enable new economic models, such as pay-per-article or in-game purchases. Efficient handling of these operations is crucial for many digital economies.
Context ∞ Crypto news frequently reports on micro-transactions in the context of gaming, content streaming, and decentralized applications where small payments are common. A key discussion point concerns the scalability of blockchain networks to handle a high volume of such small transactions efficiently. Future developments include advancements in layer-2 scaling solutions and payment channels designed to reduce costs and latency for micro-payments.