A ‘mainchain’ refers to the primary layer of a cryptocurrency or blockchain network. It is the main ledger where all transactions are recorded, and it maintains the overall integrity and security of the network.
The mainchain employs a consensus mechanism (such as Proof of Work or Proof of Stake) to validate and secure transactions. This ensures that all participants in the network agree on the state of the blockchain. The mainchain is typically the most secure part of the blockchain network due to participation from nodes (miners or validators).
On platforms like Ethereum, the mainchain supports smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code. Additionally, the mainchain often interacts with other chains or sidechains, which can offload transactions from the mainchain to increase scalability and efficiency.
The native cryptocurrency of a blockchain is typically issued and managed on the mainchain. For example, BTC is managed on the Bitcoin mainchain, and Ether (ETH) is managed on the Ethereum mainchain.
