Chain Architecture Risk

Definition ∞ Chain architecture risk refers to potential vulnerabilities or limitations inherent in the fundamental design of a blockchain network. These risks can stem from consensus mechanisms, data storage methods, or network topology. Such structural issues may compromise security, scalability, or decentralization. This poses a threat to network stability.
Context ∞ Discussions surrounding chain architecture risk often focus on trade-offs between security, decentralization, and scalability, known as the blockchain trilemma. News articles frequently report on new protocols aiming to address these architectural challenges or on existing chains facing issues due to their foundational design choices, affecting long-term viability.