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Peer-to-Peer Meaning

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) is a decentralized computing architecture where equals, known as peers, interact directly with one another without the need for a central server or intermediary. In a P2P network, every participant acts as both a client requesting data and a server providing it.

This model is the polar opposite of the client-server architecture used by major tech companies where a central authority controls all data and access.The primary advantage of P2P is censorship resistance. Because there is no central off-switch, a P2P network is extremely difficult for a government or a corporation to shut down.

This was first popularized by file-sharing apps, but it found its most revolutionary application in Bitcoin. Bitcoin is a peer-to-peer electronic cash system because it allows two parties to transact directly without a bank in the middle.Technically, P2P networks rely on a gossip protocol.

When a new transaction or piece of data is created, it is shared with a few neighbors, who then share it with their neighbors, until the entire network is synchronized. This redundancy makes the network antifragile; even if a vast majority of nodes go offline, the remaining participants still have a full copy of the data and can continue to operate the system without loss of integrity.In the modern sharing economy, P2P has expanded beyond data.

Platforms like Airbnb and Uber are P2P marketplaces, though they still use a centralized company to facilitate trust and payments. The goal of Web3 is to disintermediate these platforms using smart contracts, allowing for a pure P2P economy where the service provider and the consumer interact through a transparent, code-governed protocol, keeping more of the value for themselves.

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Important Disclaimer:

Finery Markets BVI Limited (“Finery Markets”) provides software, technology infrastructure, and related Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services on a Software-as-a-Service (“SaaS”) basis. Finery Markets acts solely as a software vendor and does not operate a trading platform, does not intermediate, match, execute, clear, or settle transactions, and does not engage in any activities that would require regulatory authorisation under applicable laws.

Finery Markets’ software is non-custodial and is provided exclusively to licensed institutional entities that act as independent operators of their own environments. All counterparties are solely responsible for establishing and maintaining their own bilateral trading and settlement relationships. Finery Markets is not a party to any such arrangements and assumes no responsibility for the conduct, verification, or compliance obligations of any users of the software.

Nothing on this website shall be construed as a financial promotion, investment advice, or an offer to engage in regulated activities. Access to and use of the software is strictly limited to clients who have entered into a software licensing agreement with Finery Markets. Persons located in jurisdictions where such access is restricted should not rely on this website or any of its contents.

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