Node-Specific Quorums

Definition ∞ Node-Specific Quorums refer to a design in distributed systems where the set of nodes required to reach a consensus or validate an operation is tailored or specific to certain individual nodes or subsets of the network. Instead of a universal quorum for all operations, different nodes might participate in distinct, overlapping quorums based on their roles, responsibilities, or the specific data they are validating. This approach can optimize communication and improve efficiency in large-scale decentralized networks. It allows for more granular control over agreement processes.
Context ∞ Discussions about node-specific quorums often arise in advanced blockchain scaling solutions and sharding architectures, where different parts of the network handle different data or transactions. News might highlight how such designs improve throughput or reduce latency by localizing consensus among relevant nodes. The implementation of node-specific quorums presents challenges in maintaining overall network security and preventing potential centralization risks.