Orca Crypto
Technology term

Finality

The point at which a transaction can no longer be reversed.

All terms
All termsAddressBlockBlock timeBlockchainConfirmationGasGweiHashMempoolNodePrivate keyPublic keySeed phraseTransactionWalletAll time high (ATH)Bear marketBull marketCandlestickCapitulationChart patternsDollar cost averaging (DCA)Funding rateLeverageLimit orderLiquidationLiquidityMarket capMarket orderOrder bookPosition sizingRisk managementSlippageSpreadSupport and resistanceTrendVolatilityVolumeWhaleAMMBridgeCEXDAODeFiDepegDEXFlash loanGovernance tokenImpermanent lossLiquidity poolLP tokenOraclePerpetual (perp)RestakingRWAStablecoinTVLWrapped tokenYield farmingAirdropAlphaApe inBagholderDegenDiamond handsFloor priceFOMOFUDGMHODLMaxiMeme coinMoonNFTNGMINormiePaper handsPFPRektShillSnapshotWAGMIAddress poisoningCold storageCustodyDue diligence (DYOR)Dusting attackExit scamFront runningHardware walletHoneypotHot walletMEVMultisigPhishingPump and dumpRug pullSandwich attackSelf custodySIM swapToken approvalTwo factor authenticationWallet drainerWash tradingAccount abstractionAppchainBlock explorerCirculating and total supplyConsensusData availabilityEVMFaucetFinalityForkFully diluted valuation (FDV)Gas warHalvingLayer 1Layer 2Layer 3MainnetMiningName serviceOptimistic rollupProof of stakeProof of workRollupShardingSidechainSlashingSmart contractStakingTestnetToken standardTokenomicsValidatorZero knowledge proofZK rollupArweave and the permawebComposabilityCross chain messagingdAppDecentralized identity (DID)DePINGameFi and play to earnIndexerInteroperabilityIPFSOnchain and offchainSession keysSmart accountSocialFiSoulbound tokenSybil resistanceToken gatingWeb2 vs Web3Web3
Updated 2026-08-303 min readDefinition
Definition

The point at which a transaction can no longer be reversed.

Some chains offer probabilistic finality, where reversal becomes exponentially unlikely as blocks accumulate. Others offer deterministic finality, where a finalized block is mathematically settled.

This matters for anyone accepting payments. Probabilistic finality means waiting. Deterministic finality means you can act immediately.

In practice

Ethereum finalizes about every 13 minutes. Algorand finalizes in under 3 seconds with no reorganization possible.

Where to go next

More technology terms

Back to the full encyclopedia

Want this explained out loud?

Some of these land faster in conversation than in writing. Sessions are one to one and you can ask anything, including the things that feel too obvious to ask.