Sharded Blockchain Architecture

Definition ∞ Sharded blockchain architecture involves dividing a blockchain network into smaller, independent segments called “shards,” each capable of processing its own set of transactions and smart contracts. This parallel processing approach significantly enhances the network’s overall transaction throughput and scalability. Instead of every node processing every transaction, nodes only need to process transactions relevant to their assigned shard. This design addresses the limitations of monolithic blockchains.
Context ∞ News concerning sharded blockchain architecture often highlights its potential to resolve the scalability trilemma, allowing networks to maintain decentralization and security while increasing transaction capacity. Projects like Ethereum 2.0 (now the consensus layer) have pursued sharding as a fundamental upgrade to their infrastructure. The technical challenges involve ensuring secure cross-shard communication and maintaining network-wide consensus, which are frequent subjects of research and development updates.