Definition ∞ A Proof Carrying Chain refers to a blockchain or distributed ledger system where each transaction or block includes a cryptographic proof verifying the correctness of its computation or state transition. This mechanism allows for efficient, on-chain verification of complex operations without re-executing them, ensuring integrity and reducing computational load. It enhances the trustworthiness and efficiency of the ledger.
Context ∞ The concept of a Proof Carrying Chain is critical for advanced scaling solutions, particularly those leveraging zero-knowledge proofs to aggregate transactions or computations off-chain. By including a succinct proof on the main chain, these systems can maintain high security guarantees while significantly increasing transaction throughput. This approach is central to the development of highly scalable and verifiable decentralized networks.