The primary programming language for Ethereum smart contracts. Solidity is statically typed, supports inheritance, and compiles to EVM bytecode. Unlike Solana's Rust-based development, Solidity uses a contract-oriented paradigm where code and state are co-located. Neon EVM enables running Solidity contracts on Solana by emulating the EVM.
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The primary programming language for Ethereum smart contracts. Solidity is statically typed, supports inheritance, and compiles to EVM bytecode. Unlike Solana's Rust-based development, Solidity uses a contract-oriented paradigm where code and state are co-located. Neon EVM enables running Solidity contracts on Solana by emulating the EVM.
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Solidity (solidity) Category: Blockchain General Definition: The primary programming language for Ethereum smart contracts. Solidity is statically typed, supports inheritance, and compiles to EVM bytecode. Unlike Solana's Rust-based development, Solidity uses a contract-oriented paradigm where code and state are co-located. Neon EVM enables running Solidity contracts on Solana by emulating the EVM. Related: EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine), Smart Contract
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The stack-based virtual machine that executes smart contracts on Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains (Polygon, Avalanche, BSC, Arbitrum). Programs are compiled to EVM bytecode from Solidity or Vyper. The EVM is single-threaded—all transactions execute sequentially. In contrast, Solana's SVM supports parallel execution and uses a register-based design.
Self-executing code deployed on a blockchain that automatically enforces the terms of an agreement when conditions are met. Smart contracts are immutable once deployed (unless upgradeable), transparent, and trustless. On Solana they're called 'programs'; on Ethereum they're written in Solidity and run on the EVM. They enable DeFi, NFTs, DAOs, and other decentralized applications.
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The smallest indivisible unit of Bitcoin, equal to 0.00000001 BTC (one hundred-millionth of a bitcoin), named after Bitcoin's pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto. All Bitcoin amounts are internally represented as integer counts of satoshis, avoiding floating-point precision issues. The Ordinals protocol assigns unique serial numbers to individual satoshis, enabling them to carry inscribed data.
A blockchain's ability to handle increasing transaction volume without degrading performance or decentralization. The scalability trilemma posits that blockchains can optimize at most two of: decentralization, security, and scalability. Solutions include Layer 2 rollups, sharding, parallel execution (Solana's Sealevel), and modular architectures.
The entity responsible for ordering, batching, and submitting transactions in a Layer 2 rollup. Most rollups currently use a single centralized sequencer operated by the rollup team. Decentralized and shared sequencer designs (Espresso, Astria) distribute this power across a network of operators, enabling cross-rollup atomic composability and reducing single points of failure.
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The stack-based virtual machine that executes smart contracts on Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains (Polygon, Avalanche, BSC, Arbitrum). Programs are compiled to EVM bytecode from Solidity or Vyper. The EVM is single-threaded—all transactions execute sequentially. In contrast, Solana's SVM supports parallel execution and uses a register-based design.
Self-executing code deployed on a blockchain that automatically enforces the terms of an agreement when conditions are met. Smart contracts are immutable once deployed (unless upgradeable), transparent, and trustless. On Solana they're called 'programs'; on Ethereum they're written in Solidity and run on the EVM. They enable DeFi, NFTs, DAOs, and other decentralized applications.
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A distributed, append-only ledger that records transactions in cryptographically linked blocks. Each block contains a hash of the previous block, forming an immutable chain. Nodes in the network maintain copies of the ledger and reach agreement through consensus mechanisms. Blockchains enable trustless, decentralized record-keeping without a central authority.
The protocol by which nodes in a distributed network agree on the current state of the ledger. Common mechanisms include Proof of Work (Bitcoin), Proof of Stake (Ethereum, Solana), and BFT variants. Consensus ensures all honest nodes converge on the same transaction history despite potential network delays or malicious actors.
A consensus mechanism where validators are selected to produce blocks based on the amount of cryptocurrency they have staked (locked) as collateral. PoS is energy-efficient compared to Proof of Work. Misbehaving validators risk losing their stake (slashing). Solana, Ethereum (post-Merge), Cosmos, and Cardano use PoS variants.
A consensus mechanism where miners compete to solve computationally expensive puzzles to produce blocks and earn rewards. PoW provides strong security (51% attack resistance) but is energy-intensive. Bitcoin and pre-Merge Ethereum use PoW. The difficulty adjusts to maintain target block times regardless of total network hash power.