Bitcoin UTXO model: how Bitcoin tracks value.

Unlike account-based blockchains (such as Ethereum), Bitcoin uses the UTXO (Unspent Transaction Output) model.

How it works:
• Think of UTXOs like physical cash. If you have a $10 bill and want to buy a $3 item, you hand over the $10 bill and receive $7 in change.
• In Bitcoin, every transaction consumes existing unspent transaction outputs (inputs) and creates new unspent outputs (outputs).

Why the UTXO model matters:
1. Privacy: Users can generate new addresses for every transaction change output, making chain analysis more complex than simple account balances.
2. Parallel Processing: Nodes can verify transactions independently because each UTXO state transition is self-contained.
3. State Size & Pruning: Wallets and nodes can track unspent outputs and prune spent history to save storage.

Understanding UTXOs is fundamental for on-chain analysis—helping analysts track coin age, long-term holder behavior, and realized capitalization.

Learn the fundamentals on Binance Academy and check out on-chain metrics on major analytical tools.

Educational content only. Not financial advice.

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