Distributed ledger technology, or DLT, is a set of technologies that allow multiple nodes or participants to share, synchronize, and update a common ledger under agreed rules.
A distributed ledger can replicate data across several locations and use cryptographic techniques and consensus processes to establish valid updates. Architectures vary in who may participate, who can submit transactions, how consensus is reached, and whether records are organized into blocks. DLT is used in public blockchain networks as well as permissioned financial-market infrastructures.
DLT is the broader technology category. Blockchain is a DLT architecture that organizes ledger history through cryptographically linked blocks or equivalent ordered structures.
DLT provides the underlying recordkeeping architecture for many stablecoins, tokenized deposits, CBDC experiments, and tokenized financial assets.
A permissioned settlement platform can use DLT among approved financial institutions without operating as a public cryptocurrency network.