Snapshot
Also known as: State Snapshot, Blockchain Record, Ledger Snapshot
A record of blockchain state at a specific block height, used for airdrops, voting, and token distribution.
A snapshot in blockchain is a capture of the entire network state, including balances and contract data, at a specific block number or timestamp. Snapshots are used for distributing tokens (airdrops), calculating staking rewards, or determining DAO voting power. They allow off-chain systems to reference an accurate historical ledger state without requiring live data. Popular tools like Snapshot.org use snapshots for off-chain governance, while others are used in hard forks and protocol upgrades. Snapshots ensure fairness and consistency in token holder-based systems.