Definition ∞ Zero prover overhead describes an ideal state in cryptographic proof systems where the computational cost for a prover to generate a validity proof is negligible. Achieving this means proofs can be created almost instantaneously and with minimal resource consumption. This concept represents a significant goal for highly scalable and efficient blockchain solutions.
Context ∞ News about the future of blockchain scalability often mentions zero prover overhead as a theoretical objective for advanced proof systems. While currently an aspirational goal, research in areas like recursive proofs aims to approach this level of efficiency. Achieving near-zero overhead would drastically improve the throughput and reduce the cost of layer-2 solutions. This technical advancement holds promise for making decentralized applications universally accessible.