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Off-Chain

Refers to blockchain transactions that are processed outside the blockchain. Due to the limitations of on-chain transactions, including a blockchain's scalability, speed, and cost, off-chain transactions and Layer 2 protocols were introduced to help Layer 1 blockchains deal with congested networks and slow processing speeds.

Example

A Bitcoin user sent a payment through the Lightning Network, an off-chain solution that settled the transaction instantly for a fraction of a cent in fees.