Selective Censorship Resistance

Definition ∞ Selective censorship resistance describes a system’s ability to resist suppression for certain transactions while permitting it for others. This characteristic indicates that a blockchain or decentralized application might prioritize the inclusion of specific types of transactions, such as financial transfers, over others, like arbitrary data storage. It can also arise from design decisions that allow certain actors, like validators, to filter transactions based on predefined criteria, often for regulatory compliance or network stability. This contrasts with absolute censorship resistance, where all valid transactions are treated equally.
Context ∞ The concept of selective censorship resistance is a contentious topic in the blockchain community, particularly concerning the balance between decentralization and regulatory demands. News reports often discuss the implications of transaction filtering by block producers for network neutrality and user freedom. The debate involves exploring mechanisms that can achieve compliance without compromising the core principles of an open and permissionless ledger.