Commitment Schemes

Definition ∞ A commitment scheme is a cryptographic method for locking a value such that it can be revealed later. It provides a way to commit to a piece of data without revealing it initially, ensuring that the committer cannot change the data later. This mechanism is crucial for protocols requiring verifiable actions or secret inputs where integrity must be maintained.
Context ∞ Commitment schemes are foundational for many advanced cryptographic applications, including zero-knowledge proofs and secure multi-party computation. Their application in blockchain technology allows for privacy-preserving transactions and verifiable computation off-chain, which is a frequent subject in discussions about scalability and privacy solutions. The ongoing development and adoption of protocols utilizing these schemes are key indicators of technological advancement in the digital asset space.