Merkle Commitments

Definition ∞ Merkle commitments utilize Merkle trees, a cryptographic data structure, to efficiently verify the integrity and inclusion of data within a larger dataset without revealing all data. A Merkle commitment is the root hash of such a tree, serving as a compact cryptographic proof for the entire set of information. This technique enables secure and verifiable data summarization. It is fundamental to blockchain efficiency and security.
Context ∞ Merkle commitments are a core cryptographic primitive in blockchain technology, frequently mentioned in technical crypto news regarding scaling and data verification. They are used in Bitcoin to summarize transactions in blocks and in Ethereum’s state tree to verify account balances. Zero-knowledge proofs and rollups also leverage Merkle commitments for off-chain computation verification. Understanding these commitments is essential for comprehending the security foundations of many digital asset systems.