Robust Byzantine Fault Tolerance

Definition ∞ Robust Byzantine Fault Tolerance refers to a highly resilient property within distributed systems, particularly blockchains, where the network can continue to operate correctly and reach consensus even if a significant portion of its participants are malicious or faulty. This level of tolerance ensures the system’s reliability and data integrity against various attacks, including arbitrary behavior from compromised nodes. It signifies a strong defense against internal and external threats to network consistency. Achieving this robustness is a primary goal in decentralized protocol design.
Context ∞ News reports frequently highlight Robust Byzantine Fault Tolerance when discussing the security and scalability of new blockchain protocols or upgrades to existing ones. This property is a key differentiator for networks aiming to achieve high levels of decentralization and censorship resistance, which are critical for the long-term viability of digital assets. Understanding this concept helps evaluate the foundational security claims of various cryptocurrency projects.