Prover Centralization

Definition ∞ Prover centralization refers to a condition where a limited number of entities or individuals control the generation of cryptographic proofs within a system. This concentration of proving power can introduce single points of failure or the potential for collusion, thereby compromising the decentralized nature of a blockchain. It poses a risk to the integrity and trustlessness of the network. This condition reduces network resilience.
Context ∞ The issue of prover centralization is a critical concern in the development of scalable blockchain solutions that rely on zero-knowledge proofs. Discussions often focus on designing mechanisms to distribute proving work more broadly and incentivize a diverse set of provers. Future research aims to develop proof systems that inherently resist centralization through economic or technical means.