Definition ∞ Stateless blockchains are a design approach where network nodes do not retain the complete history of the blockchain’s state. In this architectural model, nodes validate new blocks and transactions using cryptographic proofs that attest to the correctness of state transitions, rather than requiring access to the full historical ledger. This significantly reduces the storage and computational overhead for individual participants, thereby lowering the barrier to running a full node. The objective is to enhance network scalability and decentralization by making validation more accessible.
Context ∞ The concept of stateless blockchains frequently appears in news regarding advanced scaling solutions for major protocols, particularly in the context of Ethereum’s development roadmap. Implementations often rely on zero-knowledge proofs to enable efficient verification of state changes without requiring extensive data storage. This remains an active area of research and development, holding promise for future blockchain infrastructure.
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