Crypto Speak: Merkle RootsIn the blockchain realm, ensuring transaction integrity and security is crucial. Enter Merkle roots—a cryptographic hash that acts like a digital fingerprint for a set of data, such as a block of transactions. Named after Ralph Merkle, who patented the concept in 1979, Merkle roots enhance data integrity by dividing data into smaller chunks, hashing each one, and then pairing and hashing them repeatedly until only a single hash remains.
Think of it as a digital DNA sample. Any alteration in the block data changes the corresponding leaf hash, which then propagates up the tree, modifying the Merkle root. By comparing the expected Merkle root with the actual one, any data tampering can be swiftly detected.
Merkle roots are vital in various blockchain applications like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and ZK-SNARKs for verifying the integrity of blocks and transactions efficiently.
