User Transaction
Last updated
Last updated
When you click “Send” or “Confirm” in your wallet, you’re kicking off a multi-step process that involves various nodes in the network—each with a specific role. Below is an overview of how a typical transaction flows, from the user’s device all the way to final settlement on the blockchain.
User (Wallet or dApp)
You create a transaction (e.g., sending tokens, calling a contract function) and sign it with your private key.
This signature ensures authenticity and prevents tampering.
RPC Node
Receives the signed transaction from the user. The RPC node serves as the entry point to the network.
Relays the transaction to other nodes in the network, such as the sequencer or validator nodes.
Provides API endpoints for wallets and dApps, allowing users to interact with the blockchain without running a node themselves.
Could be a full node or a lighter replica node.
Leader
The leader orders the incoming transactions, determining their sequence.
It executes them in an EVM (or equivalent execution environment), updating the state as it goes.
A proposed block is then assembled, containing the ordered transactions and a state commitment (e.g., the state root—a cryptographic fingerprint that represents the entire updated state).
The leader broadcasts the proposed block to other validator nodes.
Network Nodes (full or replica node)
These nodes verify the transactions in the block (e.g., check signatures, ensure no double-spends).
They then vote on whether to accept the block. If the network agrees the block is valid, it becomes part of the chain.
Upon receiving an approved block, each node replays (or verifies) the transactions to confirm the state changes.
They update their local copy of the blockchain’s state (e.g., balances, contract data).
RPC Nodes Synchronize (State Sync)
As full nodes and replica nodes update their state. This allows them to serve up-to-date information to users and dApps, including updated balances, contract outputs, and the latest blockchain state.
Final Settlement (If Applicable)
In a Layer-2 context, periodic state commitments or proofs are submitted to an L1 (like Ethereum) to ensure trust-minimized security.
This step provides an extra layer of safety: if the L2 fails or acts maliciously, the L1’s data can be used to resolve disputes or recover funds.
Result: By the end of this process, all nodes in the network have an identical, updated view of the blockchain’s state, and your transaction is finalized.