Faulty Nodes

Definition ∞ Faulty nodes are individual computers within a blockchain network that fail to operate correctly. These nodes may transmit incorrect data, cease participation, or otherwise deviate from the protocol’s expected behavior. Their malfunction can result from software bugs, hardware failures, network connectivity issues, or even malevolent intent. Such operational defects can compromise data integrity and network performance.
Context ∞ The presence of faulty nodes poses a direct threat to the reliability and security of decentralized systems. News reports frequently cover incidents where node failures cause temporary service disruptions or transaction processing delays. A key area of ongoing development involves creating more robust consensus mechanisms and improved node monitoring systems to detect and isolate such issues swiftly.