1️⃣ What is Blockchain? (Distributed Ledger)

One-liner:

Blockchain = many people keeping the same ledger together

Example:

  • Centralized system (like a bank):

    • Only the bank keeps the record.
    • You transfer money → the bank updates the ledger.
  • Blockchain (decentralized):

    • Many computers all over the world keep the same record.
    • Every transaction is recorded by everyone.

👉 No single “boss”
👉 Nobody can arbitrarily change the record

  • Block = one page of the ledger
  • Chain = pages linked together
  • Distributed ledger = the ledger exists in many places

2️⃣ Block / Block Height / Confirmations

Block

A block = a batch of confirmed transactions

Think of it as:

  • Every 10 minutes (Ethereum is faster)
  • Pack some transactions
  • Make a new page in the ledger

Block Height

Block height = which page this is

  • Block #1 → height 1
  • Block #100 → height 100

📌 Higher height = older history

Confirmation

A transaction is “confirmed” by blocks piled after it

Example:

  • Your transaction is in block 100

  • Next blocks:

    • 101 → 1 confirmation
    • 102 → 2 confirmations
    • 103 → 3 confirmations

👉 More confirmations = harder to reverse


3️⃣ Decentralized vs Centralized

Centralized (bank, Alipay)

  • One boss controls everything
  • Can freeze or reverse transactions

Decentralized (blockchain)

  • No boss
  • Rules are written in code
  • Majority consensus counts

One-liner for interviews:

Centralized = trust an institution
Decentralized = trust the rules + math


4️⃣ Gas / Gas Fee / Gas Limit

Gas

Gas = computational cost to run a transaction or smart contract

  • Transferring tokens
  • Calling a smart contract
  • Minting NFTs

Gas Fee

Gas Fee = tip for miners/validators

  • More fee → higher chance your transaction gets processed first

Gas Limit

Gas Limit = maximum you’re willing to spend

  • Not enough gas → transaction fails but fee still spent
  • Protects you from infinite costs

5️⃣ Why do transactions need confirmations?

In plain words:

Because blockchain is decentralized, transactions need network validation and consensus.
Only after being included in a block and getting enough confirmations is a transaction truly successful.

Even simpler:

It’s not one server saying “yes”; it’s many nodes all nodding together.


6️⃣ Why is it immutable?

Three reasons:

  1. Hash link

    • Each block stores the hash of the previous block
    • Changing one transaction breaks the chain
  2. Distributed storage

    • Ledger exists on thousands of computers
    • Changing it would need to alter most nodes at the same time
  3. Consensus mechanism

    • Nodes that don’t follow rules get ignored

One-liner:

Not impossible to change, but too costly, too hard, and nobody would accept it


7️⃣ Interview Favorite:

Q: Why isn’t a transaction immediately successful?

Answer (standard):

Because blockchain is decentralized, a transaction needs to be validated and reach consensus among network nodes.
Only after being included in a block and getting enough confirmations can it be considered successful.

Simpler / casual:

Because it’s not one server deciding; it’s many nodes agreeing together.


8️⃣ Quick Cheat Sheet

  • Blockchain: many people keeping the ledger together
  • Block: a page of transactions
  • Block height: which page it is
  • Confirmations: how many pages piled on top
  • Decentralized: no boss, follow rules
  • Gas: cost of computation
  • Transaction delay: waiting for everyone to confirm

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1️⃣ Private Key / Public Key / Address

🔑 Private Key

Your wallet’s master key

  • Whoever has it controls the assets
  • Must never be exposed

📤 Public Key

Derived from the private key, can be shared publicly

  • Others can send funds to it
  • Cannot be reversed to get the private key

🏠 Address

Simplified version of the public key / account name

  • Like a bank account number
  • Used to receive funds and identify the wallet

Interview summary:
Private key = control/permission
Public key = public identity
Address = account


2️⃣ Mnemonic Phrase / Seed Phrase

A set of words that acts as a universal backup for the wallet

  • Can generate the private key (and then public key & address)
  • If leaked → all assets can be controlled
  • Advantage: just remember 12/24 words to recover the wallet

Interview-friendly version:
A mnemonic phrase is a backup for your private key. It allows wallet recovery but must be kept secret.


3️⃣ Why the Private Key Never Leaves the Wallet

Because if it leaves, security is lost

  • Wallet = signing device (not an account)
  • Private key only used internally to sign transactions
  • Never stored or transmitted externally

Interview phrasing:

The private key never leaves the wallet because the wallet acts as a signing device, and the key is only used locally to generate signatures for secure transactions.


4️⃣ What a Wallet Really Is

Wallet = signing device + address manager

  • Not a bank account, it does not store funds
  • Funds are on-chain; the wallet controls signing authority
  • You sign with your wallet → the blockchain recognizes your actions as valid

Interview version:
A wallet is a tool to interact with the blockchain. Assets stay on-chain; the wallet just signs transactions on your behalf.


5️⃣ Hot Wallet / Cold Wallet

🔥 Hot Wallet

Wallet is online

  • Pros: convenient, instant transactions
  • Cons: more vulnerable to hackers

❄️ Cold Wallet

Wallet is offline

  • Pros: very secure
  • Cons: less convenient, harder for frequent transactions

Interview-friendly answer:
Hot wallets are for daily transactions, cold wallets are for long-term storage or large amounts.


🔥 Summary for Interview (One Paragraph)

The private key is the core key of a wallet and never leaves it. Public key and address are public identities used to receive funds. Mnemonic phrase is a backup for the private key and allows wallet recovery. Wallets are signing devices—they don’t store funds, they just sign transactions. Hot wallets are online and convenient for daily use; cold wallets are offline and highly secure, suitable for long-term storage.


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