Uncertified Blocks

Definition ∞ Uncertified blocks refer to blocks of transactions in a blockchain network that have been created by a miner or validator but have not yet received sufficient confirmations from other network participants to be considered final. These blocks carry a higher risk of being orphaned or reorganized. They represent a provisional state of network agreement. Their existence is typical in certain consensus processes.
Context ∞ In blockchain news, discussions about uncertified blocks often arise in the context of network congestion, transaction finality, and the security of specific consensus mechanisms. Debates center on the time it takes for blocks to become fully certified and the implications for user confidence and application reliability. A critical future development involves protocol improvements that reduce the period of uncertainty for uncertified blocks.