Cryptographic Key Verification

Definition ∞ Cryptographic key verification is the process of confirming the authenticity and integrity of a public key. This procedure ensures that a public key genuinely belongs to the claimed entity and has not been tampered with or replaced by an attacker. It is a critical step in establishing trust in secure communication channels and validating digital signatures. Proper verification prevents man-in-the-middle attacks and ensures that transactions are signed by the intended party.
Context ∞ Cryptographic key verification is a foundational security practice, particularly relevant in blockchain transactions where public keys represent user identities. The discussion often concerns methods for secure key distribution and trust establishment in decentralized environments. Innovations in decentralized identity solutions and web of trust models seek to strengthen key verification processes.