Commitment Scheme

Definition ∞ A commitment scheme is a cryptographic primitive allowing a party to commit to a chosen value while keeping it hidden, with the ability to reveal it later. This scheme operates in two phases, the commit phase, where a committer selects a value and computes a commitment, and the reveal phase, where the committer discloses the value and a proof that it matches the commitment. The primary properties are hiding, meaning the commitment does not reveal the value, and binding, meaning the committer cannot change the value after committing. It is a foundational tool in zero-knowledge proofs and secure multi-party computation.
Context ∞ Commitment schemes are vital for privacy and verifiable computation within blockchain and cryptographic protocols. News often covers their application in scaling solutions and privacy-preserving digital asset transactions. Ongoing research focuses on developing more efficient and secure schemes to support advanced cryptographic applications, enhancing the integrity of decentralized systems.