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Below are some of the key concepts and terms used in the Byzantine API. Some of these relate to blockchain technology. Basic knowledge of blockchain will be helpful in understanding Byzantine, but it is not required. Integrating Byzantine is 100% API-based.

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Key terms

ConceptExplainer
UserEvery individual user and every person in a business entity has a unique user_id. User ID is used to identify the user in the Byzantine ecosystem and to update user personal information.
EntityA legal entity. At least one root user account needs to be tied to each legal entity to be able to make transactions. An entity can be found via any account_id that is tied to it.
AccountEvery individual and business user of Byzantine has an account, associated with a unique account_id. Accounts can be tied to legal entities.
WalletA wallet is the user’s blockchain access point: it stores their assets and enables transactions. The wallet is where a user account’s vault shares are held. If a user doesn’t already have one, a secure wallet is automatically created and embedded in their account during onboarding. One account is associated with at least one wallet.
VaultByzantine products, like Byzantine Prime USDC, are smart contracts known as vaults. These smart contracts are blockchain-based code that automatically handles all administration work surrounding a user’s deposit. These vaults are what make Byzantine’s high security and non-custodial nature possible.

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Wallet authentication

Even if the user accesses the blockchain through an integrator’s interface and Byzantine’s API, the user is sole owner and controller of their assets. Each time a transaction is to be made, the user must themselves approve it with one of the available signature methods. Without this signature tied to the user’s device or the user’s identity, nobody could physically make transactions. In this way, user ownership and control are programatically guaranteed. The are two methods of authentication to use the wallet. For more details, see Authentication methods.

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Two-step transactions

Since the user is the sole controller of the wallet, they need to sign every transaction themselves. Therefore, making a transaction via the Byzantine API is split into two steps:
  1. Requesting the transaction body
  2. Submitting the signed transaction
For details on how this process works, see Transactions.

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Non-custodiality

At no point in any interaction does Byzantine take custody or hold control over user funds.