Stateless Blockchain

Definition ∞ A stateless blockchain is a design approach where network nodes do not retain the entire history of the blockchain’s state, instead relying on cryptographic proofs to verify transactions. This reduces the storage and computational burden on individual nodes. It aims to improve scalability and allow for broader participation in network validation. Such architectures are still under active research.
Context ∞ Discussions around stateless blockchains are prominent in efforts to address the scalability limitations of current blockchain networks, often reported in technical crypto news. Projects explore various methods, like Verkle trees or zero-knowledge proofs, to achieve this efficiency. The successful implementation of a truly stateless blockchain could significantly alter the performance capabilities of digital asset systems.