Genesis block

The very first block of a blockchain.

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What is the genesis block?

The genesis block is the very first block ever recorded on a blockchain, sometimes called Block 0. It is the foundation that every later block traces back to.

Why it is special

Because it has no earlier block to link to, the genesis block is usually written directly into the network’s software. Bitcoin’s genesis block famously contains a short message in its data.

Related terms

A fixed-length string produced by running data through a mathematical function.

A change to a blockchain's rules that can split it into two paths.

A scheduled event that cuts the reward for mining new Bitcoin blocks in half.

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