Definition ∞ Single-round protocols are cryptographic communication schemes where participants exchange messages only once to achieve a specific outcome, such as establishing a shared secret or verifying a transaction. These protocols are valued for their efficiency and low latency, as they minimize the number of interactions required. In blockchain, they can reduce the computational overhead and communication rounds necessary for certain operations. They contrast with multi-round protocols that require several message exchanges.
Context ∞ The discussion around single-round protocols is pertinent to improving the efficiency and scalability of blockchain systems, particularly for privacy-preserving computations. Researchers are actively developing new cryptographic primitives that support single-round interactions. A critical future development involves their integration into zero-knowledge proof systems to accelerate verification times for complex proofs.