Verifiable State

Definition ∞ Verifiable State refers to the condition of a blockchain or smart contract at a specific point in time, which can be independently confirmed as accurate and authentic using cryptographic proofs. This means that anyone can verify the correctness of all transactions and data within the system without needing to trust an intermediary. It is a fundamental property of decentralized systems, ensuring transparency and data integrity. This concept underpins the security of blockchain applications.
Context ∞ The concept of verifiable state is central to the security and trust models of all public blockchains and decentralized applications. Developments in zero-knowledge proofs and other cryptographic techniques are continuously enhancing the efficiency of verifying state transitions. News often discusses advancements that allow for more compact and faster state verification, contributing to greater scalability and privacy.