Ethereum: How does the network know my current balance?
Understanding the Ethereum Blockchain and Balance
As an Ethereum user, it’s natural to wonder how your current balance is determined. You’re right that it seems intuitive to simply send a transaction with the amount you want to move. But behind the scenes, the Ethereum blockchain plays a key role in keeping track of your balance.
Basics: Transactions and Blocks
Simply put, transactions are like digital messages sent between nodes on the Ethereum network. When you send a transaction, you send a set of instructions (called a “transaction”) with the amount of Ether (ETH) or other token you want to transfer to someone else. The blockchain is a public ledger that keeps track of all transactions made on the network.
A block is a collection of transactions, and each block has a unique code called a “hash” that links it to the previous block. This hash serves as a link between the blocks, forming a chain.
Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and Accounts
At the heart of the Ethereum blockchain lies the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). The EVM is a software framework that executes smart contracts on the network. It defines how transactions are verified, authenticated, and stored on the blockchain.
Each user account on the Ethereum network is represented by a unique address, which is essentially a public key associated with a specific balance. This address is used to store and manage your Ether or other tokens.
How Balances Are Stored
When you create an account or deposit Ether into it, your balance is stored in the EVM storage pool. The storage pool is a data structure that keeps track of all balances on the network.
Here’s how it works:
- When you create an account or deposit Ether, the transaction is verified and validated by the Ethereum network.
- Once verified, the transaction is linked to a specific block hash and included in the blockchain.
- The EVM updates your balance in the storage pool based on the transactions that have occurred since your last update.
Block Hash: The Link Between Blocks
As mentioned earlier, each block has a unique hash code that links it to the previous block. This hash serves as the link between blocks and forms the basis of Ethereum’s blockchain architecture.
When you send a transaction, the EVM uses this hash to determine where in the blockchain your funds are being transferred. The hash is used to verify the relationship between the sender and recipient and to ensure the validity of the transaction before it is included in the next block.
In simple terms: Your balance is stored
To summarize, when you create an account or deposit Ether into it, your balance is stored in the EVM storage pool. This pool is updated based on the transactions that have occurred since your last update, using a unique hash code to link each transaction to its corresponding block.
When you send a transaction, the EVM uses this hash code to determine where in the blockchain your funds are being transferred, ensuring that your balance is accurately represented.
In Conclusion
The Ethereum blockchain architecture plays a key role in keeping track of balances. By understanding how transactions work and how your account is represented by a unique address, you can now better understand how the Ethereum network knows your current balance.