Definition ∞ EVM-native fraud proofs are mechanisms that verify the correctness of off-chain computations within an Ethereum Virtual Machine environment. These proofs allow a single validator to detect and report an incorrect state transition submitted by a rollup operator to the mainnet. If a discrepancy is found, the fraud proof provides cryptographic evidence, triggering a dispute resolution process on the main Ethereum chain. This system ensures the integrity of optimistic rollups by penalizing dishonest operators and reverting invalid state updates.
Context ∞ EVM-native fraud proofs are a central element in the security model of optimistic rollups, which aim to scale Ethereum by processing transactions off-chain. News often discusses their role in maintaining trustless operations and the challenges associated with their implementation, such as the dispute period length. Their ongoing development and refinement are critical for the broader adoption and security assurances of Layer 2 scaling solutions within the Ethereum ecosystem.