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- 1 Genesis block has 2 types of notes, full nodes and lightweight nodes.
- 2 The famous Genesis block was created by Satoshi Nakamoto.
A genesis block is the first block of a blockchain, which means that no data was imprinted on that blockchain before the Genesis Block. All other blocks will have sequential numbers starting with 1 and a “previous hash” set to the hash of the previous block.
The Block height starts at 0 with the Genesis Block and is used to order blocks. It is also known as Block 0 and has a “previous hash” value of 0 since it has no prior reference block.
The hash of the genesis block is combined with all new transactions in a new block to generate its unique hash. This process is repeated until all new blocks are added to the blockchain.
The genesis block is like the first ring in a physical chain. Without it, there would be no starting point. Alternatively, it can be compared to the foundation of a building, which may crumble without a solid starting point. It can also be seen as the starting point in a race. If each miner started wherever they wanted, there would be no consensus point or basis for trust.
Nodes and Genesis Block
Genesis block has 2 types of notes. Full nodes have a complete copy of the blockchain and must follow all its rules. They are essential for maintaining security and privacy. Lightweight nodes, on the other hand, do not need to download the entire copy of the blockchain and only download the parts they require to operate. To function, lightweight nodes must connect to full nodes and request the information they require.
Since a miner can manipulate the time on their computer, they’re not trustworthy for chronology. Instead, they serve as a rough estimate of when the block was produced by the miner.
The location of a block in the chain isn’t dependent on timestamps. A nonce, or “number used only once,” is a number that all miners worldwide aspire to uncover in order to validate a block and receive its mining reward. Altering the nonce alters the hash. Nonce is only applicable to blockchains that employ a Proof of Work consensus algorithm.
The Need For Genesis Block
The Genesis Block is necessary because, without it, miners would have a hard time trusting a blockchain and knowing when and how it began. This would be highly impractical.
In theory, there is no real need for a Genesis Block. However, it is essential to have a starting point that everyone can trust.
Just as every physical chain must begin with a single physical ring, the Genesis Block is that first, single ring. Alternatively, it can be seen as the foundation of a building; without a solid starting point, it may collapse. It can also be viewed as the starting point in a race. If every miner started wherever they wanted, there would be no consensus point or basis for trust.
Summary
The first block in a blockchain is called the Genesis Block or Block 0. It has a “previous hash” value of 0 since there is no previous block to reference. The Genesis Block is crucial for establishing trust and verifying the beginning of a blockchain. Without it, miners would find it difficult to process subsequent blocks.
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