Consortium Blockchain
Also known as: Federated Blockchain, Enterprise Blockchain, Permissioned Consortium Chain
A semi-decentralized blockchain managed by a group of trusted organizations rather than a single entity or the public.
A consortium blockchain is a permissioned blockchain where the consensus process is controlled by a group of pre-approved nodes, typically representing institutions such as banks, corporations, or governments. Unlike public blockchains, consortium chains provide higher throughput, lower latency, and compliance-friendly architectures, but at the cost of reduced decentralization. Use cases include supply chain tracking, interbank settlements, and enterprise data sharing. Examples of frameworks supporting consortium chains include Hyperledger Fabric, Quorum, and Corda. These networks offer privacy and governance tailored to organizational needs while retaining some benefits of blockchain immutability and auditability.