Off-Chain Economy

Definition ∞ The off-chain economy refers to economic activities and transactions that occur outside of a primary blockchain ledger but may still interact with or be supported by blockchain technology. This includes activities conducted on layer-two scaling solutions, payment channels, or other sidechains. It aims to increase transaction speed and reduce costs by processing many operations away from the main chain.
Context ∞ Developments in the off-chain economy are critical for the practical adoption and scalability of blockchain technology. News often covers the expansion of layer-two solutions, the integration of payment protocols, or the emergence of new decentralized applications that leverage off-chain computation. Understanding the off-chain economy is essential for grasping how blockchains can support a high volume of transactions and facilitate real-world economic interactions.