Adversary Structure

Definition ∞ Adversary structure defines the assumed capabilities and limitations of malicious participants within a decentralized system. It outlines the types of attacks an attacker can perform, such as controlling a portion of network nodes or disrupting communication. Understanding this framework is vital for designing robust cryptographic protocols and blockchain consensus mechanisms. The security of a system is often quantified by the extent of adversarial power it can withstand.
Context ∞ In blockchain security discussions, the adversary structure dictates the thresholds for network resilience against attacks like 51% attacks or Sybil attacks. Ongoing research frequently investigates how different adversary models impact the security proofs of novel consensus algorithms. News reports often reference the assumed adversary capabilities when analyzing the security of new digital asset platforms or protocol upgrades.