UTXO Model
The Unspent Transaction Output model is an accounting method used by Bitcoin and similar blockchains to track the ownership of digital assets. Instead of maintaining account balances like a traditional bank, the network tracks individual outputs of transactions that have not yet been spent.
When a user sends money, they take one or more existing UTXOs as inputs and create new outputs that define the new owners. This model enhances privacy and allows for complex transaction structures, such as multi-signature wallets and payment channels.
It provides a transparent audit trail of how funds move through the system. Understanding UTXOs is essential for developers building applications on top of these chains, as it dictates how transactions must be constructed and validated.