Fiat Shamir Heuristic

Definition ∞ The Fiat Shamir Heuristic is a cryptographic technique that transforms interactive proof systems into non-interactive ones. It replaces random challenges from a verifier with challenges derived from a cryptographic hash function applied to the proof transcript. This method allows for efficient verification without requiring real-time interaction between prover and verifier. It is widely used in zero-knowledge proofs and digital signature constructions.
Context ∞ The state of the Fiat Shamir Heuristic is central to the advancement of privacy-preserving technologies and scaling solutions in blockchain. Key discussions concern its security assumptions and its application in various cryptographic protocols. A critical future development involves its integration into more complex zero-knowledge proof systems to enhance privacy and efficiency across decentralized applications.