Cryptographic Delegation

Definition ∞ Cryptographic Delegation involves securely transferring specific rights or powers to another entity without revealing the underlying secret information. In blockchain systems, this allows a user to authorize a third party to perform actions on their behalf, such as validating transactions or voting in governance, using cryptographic proofs. This mechanism preserves privacy and enhances scalability by offloading computational tasks.
Context ∞ The application of Cryptographic Delegation is a significant area of research for improving the scalability and privacy of decentralized networks, particularly in zero-knowledge proof systems. Debates often concern the balance between delegated authority and maintaining sufficient decentralization within a protocol. Future developments aim to make these delegation processes more efficient and accessible for a wider range of blockchain applications.