« Index
« Index
noun
The genesis block is the very first block in a blockchain. It serves as the foundation of the entire chain and is hardcoded into the blockchain’s protocol. All subsequent blocks trace their lineage back to this original block.
In most blockchains, the genesis block is created manually and contains a unique message, timestamp, or metadata. For example, Bitcoin’s genesis block famously includes a reference to a 2009 newspaper headline about bank bailouts.
The genesis block has no previous block to reference and often sets the initial parameters of the network, such as the starting supply or validator structure.