The randomness trilemma describes the inherent difficulty in simultaneously achieving three properties for on-chain random number generation in decentralized systems. These properties are unpredictability, decentralization, and availability. It states that a protocol can typically satisfy only two of these three characteristics at any given time. This presents a fundamental challenge for secure blockchain applications. It highlights the trade-offs involved in designing robust random sources.
Context
This trilemma is a central discussion point in the design of various blockchain mechanisms that rely on random selection, such as leader election in Proof of Stake systems. Researchers continually seek innovative solutions, including verifiable random functions and cryptographic time-locks, to mitigate these trade-offs. News often covers new protocol designs that claim to offer improved solutions to this persistent problem, impacting network security.
VDFs introduce a cryptographic time-lock that enforces sequential computation, creating a provably fair, unexploitable source of on-chain randomness for secure protocol design.
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