Verifiable State Machine

Definition ∞ A verifiable state machine is a computational model whose transitions between states can be cryptographically proven to be correct and executed according to predefined rules. This ensures that every change in the system’s state, such as a transaction on a blockchain, is legitimate and adheres to the protocol’s logic. It provides a high degree of transparency and integrity for distributed systems. This concept is fundamental to the security of decentralized ledgers.
Context ∞ The verifiable state machine is a core concept underpinning the security and reliability of blockchain protocols and decentralized applications. The discussion often involves the use of zero-knowledge proofs to enable efficient verification of state transitions, particularly in scaling solutions. Future advancements aim to optimize the creation and verification of these proofs, enhancing the scalability and privacy of decentralized systems.