Modular blockchain

A type of blockchain that specializes in only a few functions, rather than all of them. The key functions are

  1. Execution
  2. Settlement
  3. Consensus
  4. Data availability

Modular blockchains are arranged as a modular stack, with each blockchain in the stack referred to as a “layer”. Since modular blockchains only provided a subset of the key functions, this enables them to to be purpose-built for the functions it provides.

For example, Celestia is a consensus and data availability layer as it only provides ordering over transactions (consensus) and verifying that their data is available.