Unordered Ledger

Definition ∞ An unordered ledger describes a distributed record-keeping system where the sequence of transactions is not strictly enforced globally across all participants at all times. Unlike traditional blockchains that maintain a globally ordered, linear chain of blocks, an unordered ledger might permit parallel processing or eventual consistency, where transaction order is resolved later. This approach can potentially enhance scalability by reducing bottlenecks associated with strict sequential ordering. It presents different challenges for conflict resolution.
Context ∞ Unordered ledgers represent an alternative design approach to conventional blockchain architectures, aiming to address scalability limitations. Discussions often revolve around the trade-offs between global transaction ordering and throughput. A critical future development involves exploring consensus mechanisms that can reliably operate with less strict ordering while maintaining data integrity.