Shared Security

Definition ∞ Shared Security is a model where multiple blockchain networks or applications derive their security from a larger, more robust parent chain. This allows newer or smaller chains to inherit the economic security of a well-established network, rather than building their own from scratch. Polkadot’s parachains and Cosmos’s zones are examples of systems leveraging shared security. This approach aims to reduce the cost and complexity of securing individual chains.
Context ∞ Shared Security is a central concept in the design of modular and interconnected blockchain ecosystems. Key discussions address the trade-offs between security inheritance and the autonomy of individual chains. Critical future developments include the maturation of protocols that enable various forms of shared security across different network architectures. Observing the growth of ecosystems built on shared security models offers insight into their long-term viability.