Glossary

Off-chain

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Off-chain is a term used to describe any data that is not registered on the Bitcoin blockchain. Off-chain data can be Bitcoin transactions that were not sent to the blockchain, data on the Lightning Network, or data on other blockchains, such as a sidechain.

Related Terms
Lightning Network
The Lightning Network (LN) is a protocol enabling instant, cheap Bitcoin transactions. Still experimental, it shows great promise for scaling Bitcoin.
Learn more.
Sidechain
A sidechain is a protocol that relies on the Bitcoin blockchain for data or security, but conducts its own operations on a separate blockchain.
Learn more.
Layer
Bitcoin has several layers, such as the Lightning and Liquid Networks, that let users transact off the main chain without compromising Bitcoin's security.
Learn more.
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