Definition ∞ A Cryptographic Clock is a mechanism that uses cryptographic proofs to establish a verifiable sequence of events or a measure of time within a distributed system. Unlike traditional clocks, it does not rely on a centralized time source but rather on the chronological ordering and cryptographic linking of data blocks. This provides a secure and immutable record of when events occurred relative to one another on a blockchain.
Context ∞ Cryptographic Clocks are fundamental to understanding the integrity of transactions and smart contract execution in blockchain news. Their decentralized nature prevents manipulation of event sequencing, which is critical for maintaining consensus and preventing double-spending attacks. Debates often address the precision and synchronization challenges of these clocks across geographically dispersed nodes, particularly in high-throughput networks.
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