Verifiable Secret Sharing is a cryptographic method where a secret, such as a password or encryption key, is split into several parts and distributed to different participants. Each part alone is not enough to reveal the secret. What makes the scheme verifiable is that participants can check that the shares they receive are valid and…
Time-lock puzzles are a type of cryptographic challenge designed so that the solution can only be found after a certain amount of time has passed, regardless of how much computing power is used. They work by requiring a sequence of calculations that cannot be sped up by parallel processing or shortcuts. This ensures information is…
Flashbots architecture refers to the system and methods used to connect blockchain users, searchers, and miners or validators in a way that allows for transparent and efficient transaction ordering. It helps prevent unfair practices like front-running by creating a separate communication channel for submitting and processing transactions. The architecture uses off-chain communication and specialised software…
Gas limit adjustments refer to changing the maximum amount of computational effort, or gas, that can be used for a transaction or block on blockchain networks like Ethereum. Setting the gas limit correctly ensures that transactions are processed efficiently and do not consume excessive resources. Adjusting the gas limit helps balance network performance, cost, and…
Blockspace markets refer to the buying and selling of space within blocks on a blockchain. Every blockchain block has limited capacity, so users compete to have their transactions included by offering fees to validators or miners. This competition creates a market where transaction fees can rise or fall depending on demand and available blockspace. Blockspace…
Light client protocols are methods that allow devices or applications to interact with blockchains without downloading the entire blockchain history. They use efficient techniques to verify key information, such as transactions or account balances, by checking small pieces of data from full nodes. This approach makes it possible for devices with limited resources, like smartphones,…
Forkless upgrades are a way to update or improve a blockchain network without needing to split it into two separate versions. Traditional upgrades often require a fork, which can cause division and confusion among users if not everyone agrees to the changes. With forkless upgrades, changes can be made smoothly and automatically, allowing all users…
Beacon Chain synchronisation is the process by which a computer or node joins the Ethereum network and obtains the latest state and history of the Beacon Chain. This ensures the new node is up to date and can participate in validating transactions or proposing blocks. Synchronisation involves downloading and verifying block data so the node…
Shard synchronisation is the process of keeping data consistent and up to date across multiple database shards or partitions. When data is divided into shards, each shard holds a portion of the total data, and synchronisation ensures that any updates, deletions, or inserts are properly reflected across all relevant shards. This process is crucial for…
Cross-shard transactions refer to the process of transferring data or value between different shards in a sharded blockchain network. Sharding is a technique that breaks a network into smaller parts, called shards, to improve scalability and speed. Cross-shard transactions ensure that users can send assets or information from one shard to another smoothly and securely,…