In a consortium blockchain, multiple organizations come together to control the network. This means that the consensus mechanism is not open to the public but rather restricted to the members of the consortium. Each member has a role in validating transactions and maintaining the ledger, ensuring that decisions are made collectively. Because the number of participants is limited, consortium blockchains are typically faster and more efficient than public blockchains. They are particularly useful in enterprise scenarios where business partners want to collaborate without fully decentralizing authority.