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Cryptographic Precompiles

Definition

Cryptographic Precompiles are specialized, efficient functions pre-implemented within a blockchain’s virtual machine to handle complex cryptographic operations. These functions execute much faster and at a lower gas cost than if coded directly as smart contract logic. They are designed to accelerate common cryptographic tasks like elliptic curve pairings or hash function computations. Their inclusion significantly enhances the performance and utility of decentralized applications requiring advanced cryptography.