BFT SMR

Definition ∞ BFT SMR stands for Byzantine Fault Tolerant State Machine Replication, a method for achieving consensus in distributed systems. It enables a network of computers to agree on a sequence of operations even if some participants act maliciously or fail. This protocol ensures that all honest nodes process the same operations in the same order, maintaining consistent system state. It is critical for the reliability and integrity of many blockchain and distributed ledger technologies.
Context ∞ BFT SMR protocols are a primary subject in the ongoing development of scalable and secure blockchain architectures. Debates often focus on the trade-offs between fault tolerance levels, transaction throughput, and latency. Research continues to refine these algorithms to improve performance and reduce communication overhead, aiming to support a broader range of high-demand decentralized applications and digital asset systems.