BFT Security Mechanisms

Definition ∞ BFT security mechanisms refer to protocols designed to ensure consensus in distributed systems even when some components act maliciously. These systems can tolerate a certain number of faulty or dishonest nodes without compromising the integrity of the network. They achieve this by requiring a supermajority of honest nodes to agree on a state or transaction. This resilience is critical for the reliable operation of decentralized ledgers.
Context ∞ BFT security mechanisms are a central topic in the design and evaluation of various blockchain architectures, particularly those prioritizing high transaction throughput and fast finality. Debates often focus on the trade-offs between Byzantine fault tolerance levels, network scalability, and decentralization. Ongoing research seeks to refine these mechanisms for broader application in digital asset infrastructure.