Minimal Synchrony

Definition ∞ Minimal synchrony describes a distributed system model where nodes are assumed to have some loose bounds on message delivery times and processing speeds, but not strict, perfectly synchronized clocks. This model is more realistic than a fully synchronous one and less pessimistic than a completely asynchronous one. Many blockchain consensus protocols operate under assumptions of minimal synchrony to achieve fault tolerance and liveness. It represents a practical compromise in network design.
Context ∞ Minimal synchrony is a foundational assumption in the design and analysis of various blockchain consensus algorithms, impacting their performance and security guarantees. A key discussion involves precisely defining these bounds and ensuring protocols remain robust even when network conditions deviate from these assumptions. Future research focuses on building protocols that perform optimally across a wider range of synchrony conditions to enhance resilience.