Non-Threshold Security

Definition ∞ Non-threshold security refers to a cryptographic system or protocol where the security properties do not depend on a specific number or proportion of honest participants. Instead, the system remains secure as long as at least one participant behaves honestly, or conversely, it breaks if any single participant is compromised. This contrasts with threshold schemes that require a minimum number of honest actors. Such systems often rely on strong individual cryptographic primitives.
Context ∞ In discussions about decentralized applications and protocols, non-threshold security might be relevant for specific components where a single point of failure could be critical. While many blockchain consensus mechanisms rely on threshold security assumptions, certain ancillary cryptographic functions or key management solutions might aim for non-threshold properties. The design choice depends on the specific security requirements and trust model.