Investopedia / Xiaojie Liu What Is a Blockchain? A blockchain is a distributed database or ledger that is shared among the nodes of a computer network. As a database, a blockchain stores information electronically in digital format. Blockchains are best known for their crucial role in cryptocurrency systems, such as Bitcoin, for maintaining a secure
What Is Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS)? Blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS) is the third-party creation and management of cloud-based networks for companies in the business of building blockchain applications. These third-party services are a relatively new development in the growing field of blockchain technology. The application of blockchain technology has moved well beyond its best-known use in cryptocurrency transactions and
What Is a Blockchain Operating System? A blockchain operating system uses blockchain as a support system that runs in the background of a computer system or platform. For instance, your Android mobile or Windows PC needs a local installation of the respective operating system (OS) on the smartphone’s memory or on the PC’s hard disk, and
What Is a Blocked Account? A blocked account generally refers to a financial account that has some limitations or restrictions placed upon it, temporarily or permanently. Accounts may be blocked or limited for a variety of reasons, including internal bank policies, external regulations, or via a court order or legal decision. An account that has
What Is a Blocked Currency? The term blocked currency refers to a currency that can’t be converted freely on the foreign exchange or forex (FX) market because of exchange controls. A blocked currency is effectively a non-convertible or inconvertible currency. The currency is generally blocked because of government restrictions, including foreign exchange regulations, physical barriers
What Is a Blocked Period? A blocked period refers to the length of time in which an investor’s securities are prevented from being accessed. A blocked period may be put in place if an investor has used a security as collateral, as it prevents the investor from using the same security as collateral or from
What Is a Block Grant? A block grant is an annual sum of money that is awarded by the federal government to a state or local government body to help fund a specific project or program. These became official in the U.S. beginning in 1966. This form of federal assistance is often associated with supporting
What Is a Cryptocurrency Block Header? A block header is used to identify a particular block on an entire blockchain and is hashed repeatedly to create proof of work for mining rewards. A blockchain consists of a series of various blocks that are used to store information related to transactions that occur on a blockchain
What Is a Blockholder? A blockholder is the owner of a large block of a company’s shares and/or bonds. In terms of shareholding, these owners are often able to influence the company with the voting rights awarded with their holdings. Key Takeaways A blockholder refers to an individual or organization which owns a substantial amount of a company’s shares
What Is a Biweekly Mortgage? A biweekly mortgage is a mortgage product that allows the borrower to make payments every two weeks rather than once a month. A biweekly mortgage means that the borrower is paying every two weeks, or 26 half payments. The result is effectively 13 full payments over a 12-month period, accelerating
