Definition
A peer-to-peer (P2P) network lets participants communicate as peers, sharing data or services directly with one another. Blockchain nodes commonly use peer connections to relay transactions and blocks. The term concerns the communication or interaction model and does not by itself establish that ownership or governance is decentralized.
Network versus Trading Usage
In a blockchain network, a node sends data to selected peers, which may relay it further. In exchange terminology, P2P trading usually means buyers and sellers trade with each other, often through a platform that supplies listings, escrow or dispute handling. This marketplace meaning is related to direct interaction but is not the same as the network architecture.
Key Considerations
Peer-to-peer communication can reduce reliance on a single data-distribution point, but participants still need ways to discover peers and verify received information. Direct contact does not make a counterparty trustworthy. A P2P marketplace may remain centrally operated and subject to its own payment and dispute rules. Always identify whether the term refers to infrastructure or a trading service.