Account Model

The account model is a blockchain design pattern where the state of the network is represented by a set of accounts, each with a balance, similar to a traditional bank ledger. When a transaction occurs, the system simply updates the balance of the sender and the receiver.

This model is used by Ethereum and is generally more intuitive for developers building smart contracts. It allows for complex state changes that are easier to track than in a UTXO-based system.

However, it requires careful handling of transaction ordering to prevent issues like nonce collisions. The account model makes it easier to implement logic that depends on the state of an account over time.

It is the dominant model for programmable blockchains. This structure supports the development of diverse decentralized applications.