Peer-to-peer (from the English peer-to-peer, literally "equal to equal", abbreviated P2P) is a principle of organizing a network in which all participants are equal and can interact with one another directly. It is an alternative to the classic centralized "hub-and-spoke" scheme, where all exchanges pass through a single node or intermediary. In a P2P network each participant can simultaneously act as a sender, a receiver and a node that supports the operation of the system.

For cryptocurrencies the P2P principle is fundamental. It is precisely thanks to it that Bitcoin and other blockchain networks work without a central bank or operator: transactions spread between nodes, are verified by many independent participants and recorded in a distributed ledger. This increases the resilience of the system — it has no single point of failure that could be switched off or hacked.

Where P2P appears in the crypto world

• In the very architecture of blockchain networks, where nodes exchange data directly.
• In P2P platforms, where users buy and sell cryptocurrency to one another without a centralized intermediary holding the funds.

Understanding the "peer-to-peer" principle helps you grasp the key advantage of cryptocurrencies — the ability to transfer value directly between people all over the world.