Optimal Communication Cost

Definition ∞ Optimal communication cost refers to the lowest possible expenditure of network resources, such as bandwidth and computational effort, required for nodes in a decentralized system to achieve consensus or exchange necessary information. Achieving this optimal state is crucial for the scalability and efficiency of blockchain protocols, especially as network size and transaction volume increase. Minimizing communication overhead directly reduces operational expenses and improves system performance. It is a key design objective for distributed ledgers.
Context ∞ Discussions around optimal communication cost frequently appear in news concerning new consensus algorithms and blockchain scaling solutions. Researchers and developers continuously seek methods to reduce the data exchanged between nodes without compromising security or decentralization. Innovations in this area are essential for the widespread adoption of decentralized technologies.