Skip to main content

Verifiable Random Functions

Definition

Verifiable Random Functions (VRFs) are cryptographic functions that produce a pseudorandom output and a proof that the output was correctly generated. This proof can be publicly verified, ensuring that the random output is both unpredictable and unbiased, without revealing the secret input used to generate it. VRFs are crucial in blockchain protocols for selecting validators, generating lottery results, or determining outcomes in decentralized applications in a provably fair manner. They provide a reliable source of randomness that is transparent and resistant to manipulation.