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Decentralized Identity (DID)
Decentralized Identity (DID) refers to a concept and technology that allows individuals or organizations to have control over their digital identities without relying on a centralized authority. It leverages blockchain and other decentralized technologies to enable secure, self-sovereign identity management, giving users ownership of their personal data and how it is shared with others. Key…
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Schnorr’s Signature
Schnorr’s signature is a type of digital signature scheme used in cryptography, known for its simplicity, efficiency, and strong security properties. It was invented by Claus-Peter Schnorr and is based on the hardness of the discrete logarithm problem, making it both fast and secure for certain cryptographic operations. Key Features: How it works: Schnorr’s signature…
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Popular Types of Blockchain Attacks
Several types of attacks can target blockchains, aiming to exploit vulnerabilities in the consensus mechanisms, network, or cryptographic protocols. Below is an overview of the most common and significant attacks that occur in blockchain environments: 1. 51% Attack (Majority Attack) 2. Sybil Attack 3. Double-Spend Attack 4. Eclipse Attack 5. DDoS Attack (Distributed Denial of…
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Hot & Cold Storage
Hot storage and cold storage are terms used to describe different methods of storing cryptocurrencies, primarily based on whether the wallet is connected to the internet or not. Each has different security implications, with hot storage being more convenient but potentially riskier, and cold storage being much more secure but less accessible. Hot Storage Hot…
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Non-Custodial Wallet
A non-custodial wallet is a type of cryptocurrency wallet where the user has full control over their private keys and, therefore, complete ownership of their funds. Unlike a custodial wallet, where a third party holds and manages the private keys (such as an exchange or service provider), a non-custodial wallet puts the responsibility of security…
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Digital Signature
A digital signature is a cryptographic technique that allows a person or entity to prove the authenticity and integrity of a digital message, document, or transaction. It functions like a handwritten signature, but in a digital format, ensuring that the message comes from the claimed sender and has not been altered in transit. How a…
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Symmetric & Asymmetric Encryption
Symmetric encryption and asymmetric encryption are two types of encryption methods used to secure data, but they operate in different ways with different strengths and weaknesses. Both are crucial in protecting information in digital communications, but their use cases and mechanisms vary. 1. Symmetric Encryption: In symmetric encryption, the same key is used for both…
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Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO)
A Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) is an organization that operates based on rules encoded as smart contracts on a blockchain, without centralized control. A DAO is typically governed by its members, who hold tokens that give them voting power on proposals. The main idea behind a DAO is to create an entity that runs autonomously,…
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Sharding
Sharding is a concept in blockchain technology designed to improve scalability by breaking the network into smaller, more manageable parts (shards) that can process transactions in parallel, thus reducing the load on any single node and increasing the network’s overall throughput. However, Cardano does not currently implement sharding in the traditional sense that some other…
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Delegate Representatives (DReps)
Delegate Representatives (DReps) on Cardano are participants in the networkβs on-chain governance system, particularly under the Voltaire era, which introduces governance and treasury features. DReps play a key role by representing ADA holders in governance decisions. Hereβs a breakdown of their function: By introducing DReps, Cardano enhances decentralized governance by ensuring that even if individual…