---
title: "Core concepts"
description: "Explore GenLayer architecture, execution, consensus, transactions, accounts, and protocol economics."
source: https://docs.genlayer.com/understand-genlayer-protocol/core-concepts
last_updated: 2026-08-19
---

# Core concepts

Start with the architecture, then follow a transaction through execution, consensus, and finality. The pages in this section explain protocol behavior. For APIs and contract code, use the linked developer documentation.

## Architecture and execution

  - [GenLayer Chain integration](/understand-genlayer-protocol/core-concepts/rollup-integration)
  - [Accounts and addresses](/understand-genlayer-protocol/core-concepts/accounts-and-addresses)
  - [GenVM](/understand-genlayer-protocol/core-concepts/genvm)
  - [Non-deterministic operations](/understand-genlayer-protocol/core-concepts/non-deterministic-operations-handling)
  - [LLM integration](/understand-genlayer-protocol/core-concepts/large-language-model-llm-integration)
  - [Web access](/understand-genlayer-protocol/core-concepts/web-data-access)

## Consensus and transactions

  - [Validators and roles](/understand-genlayer-protocol/core-concepts/validators-and-validator-roles)
  - [Optimistic Democracy](/understand-genlayer-protocol/core-concepts/optimistic-democracy)
  - [Equivalence Principle](/understand-genlayer-protocol/core-concepts/optimistic-democracy/equivalence-principle)
  - [Appeals](/understand-genlayer-protocol/core-concepts/optimistic-democracy/appeal-process)
  - [Finality](/understand-genlayer-protocol/core-concepts/optimistic-democracy/finality)
  - [Transactions](/understand-genlayer-protocol/core-concepts/transactions)

## Protocol economics

  - [Economic model](/understand-genlayer-protocol/core-concepts/economic-model)
  - [Staking](/understand-genlayer-protocol/core-concepts/optimistic-democracy/staking)
  - [Slashing](/understand-genlayer-protocol/core-concepts/optimistic-democracy/slashing)
  - [Unstaking](/understand-genlayer-protocol/core-concepts/optimistic-democracy/unstaking)