Recursive Commitments

Definition ∞ Recursive commitments refer to a cryptographic technique where a commitment to a statement can itself be committed to within another commitment, forming a verifiable chain. This allows for the compression of multiple proofs or computations into a single, succinct proof. It is a powerful method for aggregating information and reducing the computational load for verifiers in complex systems.
Context ∞ Recursive commitments are a key component in advanced zero-knowledge proof constructions, enabling highly scalable blockchain architectures by allowing proofs to verify other proofs. Their application is particularly significant in layer-2 scaling solutions and systems aiming for constant-size proof verification. Research continues to refine these techniques to optimize efficiency and strengthen cryptographic security in decentralized networks.