Definition ∞ Verifier trustlessness describes a property of cryptographic proof systems where the verifier does not need to trust the prover or any third party to confirm the validity of a statement. The proof itself contains all necessary information to independently and mathematically ascertain its correctness. This eliminates reliance on external assurances or reputation. It establishes a high degree of certainty in the verification process.
Context ∞ Verifier trustlessness is a fundamental goal in the design of robust blockchain protocols and zero-knowledge proofs, particularly for ensuring the integrity of off-chain computations. It is a key factor in building truly decentralized and permissionless systems, removing single points of failure or reliance on trusted intermediaries. Ongoing research aims to extend this property to more complex computations and across different blockchain architectures.