Proof Systems

Definition ∞ Proof systems are cryptographic mechanisms that allow one party to prove the truth of a statement to another party without revealing additional information. These systems are fundamental to ensuring security and privacy in various blockchain applications, including zero-knowledge proofs and verifiable computation. They enable verification without full disclosure of underlying data.
Context ∞ The development and application of advanced proof systems, such as zk-SNARKs and zk-STARKs, are central to current discussions in blockchain scalability and privacy. These systems offer the potential to dramatically reduce transaction data on-chain while maintaining verifiability. Ongoing research aims to optimize their performance and broaden their utility across different blockchain architectures and decentralized applications.