Ring Signature

Definition ∞ A ring signature is a type of digital signature that allows a member of a predefined group to sign a message on behalf of the group while keeping their individual identity anonymous. The verifier can confirm that a valid member of the group produced the signature, but cannot ascertain which specific member it was. This cryptographic primitive provides strong sender privacy. It is commonly used in privacy-focused cryptocurrencies to obscure transaction origins.
Context ∞ Ring signatures are a fundamental component of privacy-enhancing technologies in blockchain, notably in projects like Monero. Discussions often revolve around the computational efficiency of generating and verifying these signatures, as well as their scalability limitations. Ongoing research aims to develop more efficient ring signature constructions and integrate them into a broader range of privacy-preserving applications.