Computation Burden

Definition ∞ Computation burden refers to the total processing power and time required to execute operations within a digital system. This includes the energy and hardware resources consumed for tasks such as transaction validation, cryptographic calculations, or smart contract execution. A higher computation burden typically correlates with increased operational costs and slower system throughput. It directly impacts the scalability and efficiency of blockchain networks.
Context ∞ In cryptocurrency news, computation burden is a frequent topic when discussing blockchain scalability solutions and environmental concerns. Proof-of-Work systems, for example, are often criticized for their substantial computation burden, leading to debates about energy consumption. Developments in zero-knowledge proofs and other layer-2 solutions aim to reduce this burden, offering pathways for more efficient and sustainable digital asset infrastructure.