BFT Protocols

Definition ∞ BFT Protocols enable distributed systems to maintain agreement even when some network participants fail or behave maliciously. These protocols ensure system operation and data integrity despite the presence of Byzantine faults, which include arbitrary and malicious behavior. They achieve consensus among a set of nodes by requiring a supermajority of honest participants to validate transactions and update the system state. This mechanism is crucial for the security and reliability of many decentralized applications and digital assets.
Context ∞ Discussion often centers on the scalability limitations of classic BFT protocols, as their communication overhead typically increases with the number of nodes. Newer iterations aim to optimize performance for larger networks while preserving their strong security guarantees. The continued evolution of BFT mechanisms directly influences the viability and adoption of various blockchain architectures in digital asset markets. Understanding their operational characteristics is key to evaluating the robustness of different crypto networks.