Blockchain technology is often associated with cryptocurrencies, decentralized finance, and digital assets. But behind the headlines, traditional businesses are also exploring how blockchain can improve the way they manage data, coordinate with partners, verify products, process transactions, and interact with customers.

When you send cryptocurrency, the transaction usually does not appear in a confirmed block immediately. Between clicking “send” and seeing a confirmation, there is often an important intermediate stage: the transaction mempool.

Blockchain networks are designed to let people transfer value, run applications, and interact with digital assets without relying on a central authority. But as more people use a blockchain, the network can face an important challenge: how can it process more activity without becoming slow, expensive, or overly centralized?