---
title: "What is the difference between a public and a private blockchain?"
url: "https://worldwiki.io/q/what-is-the-difference-between-a-public-and-a-private-blockchain"
type: "question"
language: "en"
intent: "informational"
entity: "Blockchain"
topic: "Blockchain"
published: "2026-09-18 07:10:23"
updated: "2026-09-18 16:10:23"
---

# What is the difference between a public and a private blockchain?

## Short answer

Anyone can join a public (permissionless) blockchain. NIST describes it as a system where all users' permissions are equal and not set by any administrator. A private or consortium (permissioned) blockchain requires every node and user to be granted permission, usually by an administrator or consortium. Public chains such as Bitcoin and Ethereum use proof of work or proof of stake. Permissioned chains such as Hyperledger Fabric can use lighter ordering protocols, because their participants are known.

## Answer

See the NIST definitions [2][3] and Hyperledger Fabric's description of permissioned networks [11].

## Verified providers

- [TwoLegend](https://worldwiki.io/entity/twolegend) — TwoLegend is a South Korean software development company specializing in blockchain mainnet, AI and enterprise software development.

## Related questions

- [Can a blockchain be hacked or changed?](https://worldwiki.io/q/can-a-blockchain-be-hacked-or-changed)
- [What is a smart contract on a blockchain?](https://worldwiki.io/q/what-is-a-smart-contract-on-a-blockchain)
- [Is blockchain the same as Bitcoin?](https://worldwiki.io/q/is-blockchain-the-same-as-bitcoin)
- [How much energy does blockchain use?](https://worldwiki.io/q/how-much-energy-does-blockchain-use)

## Sources

1. [IR 8202, Blockchain Technology Overview](https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/ir/8202/final) — National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/153
2. [Glossary: permissioned](https://csrc.nist.gov/glossary/term/permissioned) — NIST Computer Security Resource Center · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/154
3. [Glossary: permissionless](https://csrc.nist.gov/glossary/term/permissionless) — NIST Computer Security Resource Center · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/155
4. [Glossary: smart contract](https://csrc.nist.gov/glossary/term/smart_contract) — NIST Computer Security Resource Center · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/156
5. [Block Chain — Bitcoin Developer Guide](https://developer.bitcoin.org/devguide/block_chain.html) — Bitcoin Project (developer.bitcoin.org) · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/157
6. [The story of Satoshi Nakamoto and the 1 million bitcoins](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/cef/items/663083/de-) — European Commission, CEF Newsroom · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/158
7. [Stuart Haber](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Haber) — Wikipedia · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/159
8. [The Merge](https://ethereum.org/roadmap/merge/) — ethereum.org · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/160
9. [Proof-of-stake (PoS)](https://ethereum.org/developers/docs/consensus-mechanisms/pos/) — ethereum.org · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/161
10. [Blocks](https://ethereum.org/developers/docs/blocks/) — ethereum.org · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/162
11. [Introduction — What is Hyperledger Fabric?](https://hyperledger-fabric.readthedocs.io/en/latest/whatis.html) — Hyperledger Foundation (Linux Foundation) · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/163
12. [Bitcoin electricity consumption: an improved assessment](https://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/2023/bitcoin-electricity-consumption/) — Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/164