Clear DefinitionsGenesis Block
1 min read
Pronunciation
[jen-uh-sis blok]
Analogy
Think of the genesis block as the cornerstone of a building—the first stone laid that establishes the foundation and orientation for everything built afterwards. Without this initial reference point, the entire structure cannot exist.
Definition
The first block in a blockchain, creating the foundation upon which all subsequent blocks are built. The genesis block is hardcoded into the blockchain's protocol and has no reference to a previous block.
Key Points Intro
The genesis block establishes the initial state and rules of the blockchain.
Key Points
Always has a block height of zero.
Uniquely has no parent block or 'previous block hash' value.
Often contains symbolic messages or references by the creator.
Sets the initial parameters and state of the blockchain.
Example
Technical Deep Dive
Genesis blocks are typically hardcoded directly into the blockchain client software rather than being validated by the normal consensus rules. This special treatment is necessary because they have no previous block to reference. In many blockchains, including Bitcoin, the coins in the genesis block cannot be spent due to how the initial implementation was coded, effectively making them permanently removed from circulation.
Caveat
While most blockchain networks have just one genesis block, in the case of a hard fork that creates a new blockchain, a new genesis block may be created for the fork. These are sometimes called 'post-genesis genesis blocks' and establish the starting point for the new chain.
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