Block height is a block's number in the chain — genesis is 0 (or 1), and every block increments by one. Halvings, upgrades, and unlocks are all scheduled by height ("at block 840,000"), making it the blockchain's native clock. Why it matters Height is how the network coordinates time without trusting anyone's watch: "in 100 blocks" means the same thing to every node on Earth. Explorers, halving countdowns, and vesting schedules all speak height — learn to read it and on-chain timelines become legible. Related terms block · genesis block · halving
Block height is a block’s number in the chain — genesis is 0 (or 1), and every block increments by one. Halvings, upgrades, and unlocks are all scheduled by height (“at block 840,000”), making it the blockchain’s native clock.
Why it matters
Height is how the network coordinates time without trusting anyone’s watch: “in 100 blocks” means the same thing to every node on Earth. Explorers, halving countdowns, and vesting schedules all speak height — learn to read it and on-chain timelines become legible.