Off-Chain

Off-chain refers to transactions or data that take place outside the blockchain network. Off-chain solutions are often employed to enhance scalability and reduce transaction fees or time. Unlike on-chain transactions, off-chain transactions are not recorded on the blockchain until they are eventually aggregated and settled on-chain. Off-chain solutions can offer faster and more cost-efficient processes, but they require trust in third parties or alternative verification methods. Examples include the Lightning Network for Bitcoin and certain Layer-2 scaling solutions for Ethereum, where transactions can be conducted off-chain and only settled on-chain when needed.