Low Verification Cost

Definition ∞ Low verification cost refers to the minimal computational resources, time, or energy required for a network participant to validate transactions or blocks within a blockchain system. Protocols designed with this objective aim to make it inexpensive and efficient for nodes to confirm the integrity of the ledger. This characteristic promotes decentralization by lowering the barrier to participation for individual users. It helps maintain network security without excessive overhead.
Context ∞ Achieving low verification cost is a significant goal for blockchain scalability solutions, particularly for layer-2 protocols and light clients. This area of development is crucial for expanding access to decentralized networks and reducing the environmental impact of certain blockchain operations. News often highlights advancements in zero-knowledge proofs and other cryptographic techniques that contribute to minimizing these costs.