Definition ∞ A fault tolerant protocol is a system designed to continue operating correctly even when some of its components fail. This resilience is vital for decentralized networks, where individual nodes may experience outages or malicious behavior. Such protocols ensure the integrity and continuous availability of services. They are fundamental to maintaining trust and reliability in distributed ledger technologies.
Context ∞ The development of fault tolerant protocols is a constant focus in the blockchain space, directly influencing the robustness of digital asset systems. Debates frequently concern the types of failures a protocol can withstand and the performance costs associated with achieving high fault tolerance. Future developments will likely concentrate on improving the efficiency and scalability of these protocols without compromising their security assurances.