Fault Tolerance Model

Definition ∞ A Fault Tolerance Model defines how a distributed system maintains its operational integrity despite component failures. It specifies the types of failures the system can withstand, such as crashed nodes or malicious behavior. This model is essential for designing robust and reliable blockchain networks. It quantifies the system’s resilience against disruptions.
Context ∞ The choice of a fault tolerance model is central to the security and liveness properties of any decentralized ledger. Different models, like Byzantine Fault Tolerance, offer varying degrees of resilience at different computational costs. Debates frequently concern the trade-offs between the number of tolerable faulty nodes and the complexity or performance overhead introduced.