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Crypto Terms:  Letter O
Jul 07, 2023 |
updated: Apr 02, 2024

What is Off-Chain Transaction?

Off-Chain Transaction Meaning:
Off-Chain Transaction - a transaction that occurs outside of the main blockchain.
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Let's find out Off-Chain Transaction meaning, definition in crypto, what is Off-Chain Transaction, and all other detailed facts.

An off-chain transaction occurs outside of the main blockchain. Off-chain transactions were developed as a solution to the issues related to on-chain transactions – financial operations that occur when cryptocurrency tokens are transferred within the native blockchain network.

Although cryptocurrencies like Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and Dogecoin (DOGE) offer unique functionalities and differ from each other, they are all based on the core principles of decentralization that Bitcoin (BTC) was developed with.

A decentralized blockchain network allows users to conduct financial transactions using network nodes that verify the transactions inside the distributed ledger. Cryptocurrency can be transferred via the network anywhere in the world, regardless of the locations of the sender and receiver.

Off-chain transactions were created to solve some of the issues that blockchain transactions encounter. They serve as a second-layer solution that moves the transaction outside the main blockchain. Second-layer protocols make the transaction process cheaper and faster.

The second layer encompasses projects and protocols built on top of the base blockchain. These projects are designed to improve the overall blockchain technology and user experience. Their goal is to expand blockchain functionality beyond its initial build.

Off-chain transactions are frequently used for debt agreements. Both parties must have mutual confidence that they owe each other a predetermined amount of cryptocurrency, making the transaction legitimate.

The transaction stays completely outside of the main blockchain network and occurs instantaneously. Users can then repay the remaining debt using a single on-chain transaction. They can create a channel for private key exchange for the wallets involved in the off-chain transaction.

As long as the channel remains open, users can swap cryptocurrency until a settlement is reached. The parties involved in the operation can then stop the channel and perform an on-chain operation to record the final transaction value.

Some of the best-known off-chain protocols are the Lightning Network and Liquid Network.

There are numerous advantages to performing an off-chain transaction, including:

  • Off-chain transactions help resolve the scalability issues of blockchain technology;
  • The transactions are executed significantly faster than on-chain which requires more time to be confirmed due to network congestion;
  • Until the transaction is added to the blockchain, the parties may not be required to pay any fees;
  • Parties conducting an off-chain transaction can remain anonymous as the transaction data is not recorded on the main blockchain and, therefore, isn’t publicly available.