# How Does Blockchain Work? Understanding the Mechanism > Blockchain operates on a peer-to-peer network, where each participant (node) maintains a copy of the ledger. Here’s a simplified breakdown of how it works: A user initiates a transaction, which is then represented as a block. The block is broadcast to a network of nodes. Nodes validate the transaction using consensus mechanisms like Proof of Work (PoW) or Proof of Stake (PoS). Once validated, the block is added to the blockchain, creating a permanent record. The transaction is complete, and the update is distributed across the network. This process ensures that transactions are secure, transparent, and tamper-proof. **Published by:** [konichiwa](https://paragraph.com/@konichiwa/) **Published on:** 2024-06-25 **URL:** https://paragraph.com/@konichiwa/how-does-blockchain-work-understanding-the-mechanism ## Publication Information - [konichiwa](https://paragraph.com/@konichiwa/): Publication homepage - [All Posts](https://paragraph.com/@konichiwa/): More posts from this publication - [RSS Feed](https://api.paragraph.com/blogs/rss/@konichiwa): Subscribe to updates ## Optional - [Collect as NFT](https://paragraph.com/@konichiwa/how-does-blockchain-work-understanding-the-mechanism): Support the author by collecting this post - [View Collectors](https://paragraph.com/@konichiwa/how-does-blockchain-work-understanding-the-mechanism/collectors): See who has collected this post