Hashgraph

Hashgraph is a patented distributed ledger technology that uses a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) structure combined with a "gossip about gossip" protocol to achieve consensus. Unlike traditional blockchain's linear chain of blocks, Hashgraph allows nodes to communicate efficiently by sharing information about what they've heard from other nodes, creating a more complete picture of network history. The technology claims to offer advantages in speed, fairness, and security compared to conventional blockchains, as every node reaches the same conclusion about transaction order and timing without requiring intensive computational work. Example: Hedera Hashgraph is the primary implementation of this technology, launched as a public distributed ledger network with governance from a council of organizations including Google, IBM, and DLA Piper. Why it matters for blockchain technology: Hashgraph demonstrates alternative approaches to achieving consensus beyond blockchain, suggesting that DAG-based structures could potentially offer faster settlement times and lower energy consumption for distributed systems.

Category: blockchain technology

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