Multi-Party Protocols

Definition ∞ Multi-party protocols are cryptographic procedures that enable several participants to jointly compute a function over their private inputs. These protocols ensure that no single party learns the individual inputs of others, preserving data privacy while achieving a collective outcome. In blockchain contexts, they are fundamental for secure computation, private transactions, and confidential smart contracts. Such protocols are vital for decentralized applications requiring privacy-preserving interactions among users.
Context ∞ The development of multi-party protocols is a critical area of research within the blockchain and cryptography domains, addressing privacy and security concerns. News often reports on advancements in zero-knowledge proofs and secure multi-party computation, which enhance confidentiality in decentralized systems. A key discussion involves balancing the computational overhead of these protocols with the desired level of privacy and scalability. Future applications may significantly expand the scope of private financial transactions and data sharing on public blockchains.