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In this track: The network behind the screen
intermediate · 3 MIN READ

Checkpoints and finality

Consensus can make a stronger commitment to accepted history.

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A draft record can be tentatively followed before a formal settlement process commits to a checkpoint.

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Receive, check and share across independent nodesStep 1 / 4
Receive, check and share across independent nodesIncoming dataCandidate instructionNot yet trustedNode AReceives the messageApplies local checksEach participant has a local view of incoming informationNode A checksAuthorizationProtocol validityValid candidateEligible for next stepsNot a finality promiseApplication safety is a different claim from protocol validityNode AShares checked dataNode BChecks for itselfNode CChecks for itselfNode ARules checked✓Node BRules checked✓Node CRules checked✓Agreement on history adds the consensus mechanism

A node receives a proposed transaction or block-related message. Receipt is not the same as accepting its claims.

Animated local teaching model. No wallet, RPC or live blockchain data. Some labels and hashes are abbreviated for readability.

Checkpoints organize agreement

Ethereum’s finality mechanism reasons about checkpoints and stake-weighted attestations under specific rules. A checkpoint label is not merely an arbitrary number chosen by a block explorer.

Justified and finalized differ

These are protocol-defined states in the agreement process. Understanding their relationship requires the voting rules rather than assuming that any recent accepted block is already finalized.

Disruption can delay progress

Sufficient correct participation is needed for normal finality. Network splits, offline stake or attacks can interfere with timely progress. A fixed elapsed-time estimate is not a universal guarantee.

Ask for the required settlement level

A learning interface can distinguish current inclusion and execution success from finalized-chain context. A receipt’s success flag alone does not answer every settlement question.

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Does status 1 in a receipt by itself establish checkpoint finality?

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