Definition ∞ Low beacon entropy describes a condition where the randomness generated by a beacon, often used for critical protocol functions like leader selection or transaction ordering, is predictable or easily manipulated. This lack of true randomness compromises the security and fairness of decentralized systems, making them susceptible to attacks that exploit the predictable output. A robust beacon requires a high degree of unpredictability to ensure system integrity. It represents a significant security weakness.
Context ∞ Ensuring high entropy in random beacons is a critical challenge in blockchain protocol design, particularly for proof-of-stake networks. News often discusses research and development efforts aimed at creating more secure and unpredictable randomness sources, such as verifiable delay functions or distributed random number generation. A compromised beacon could lead to centralization or network manipulation.
Blockchain Knowledge
Cryptocurrency Foundation
Cryptospace Newsfeed
