Absolutely, you've got it right. The blockchain is essentially a public ledger that records all transactions in a secure and verifiable way. Meanwhile, the network—comprised of nodes run by various parties—maintains consensus on the state of this ledger across all copies distributed globally.

This decentralized method ensures that no single entity has control over the entire history of transactions, which is one of Bitcoin's core strengths. It's about trust through verification and collective agreement rather than through central authority.

It’s ingenious how everyone keeps an eye on everyone else to keep things straight; we're stronger together while still independent. That's the beauty of decentralization!