A computer could process transactions and produce a short mathematical proof that it followed the rules. Other computers could check that proof much faster than they could repeat all the original work. Separate spot checks would help establish that the transaction records were still available for anyone who wanted to inspect them.
That would allow different computers to tackle different jobs while still checking one another’s results.
Ethereum’s developers wanted to distribute work this way a decade ago, Buterin wrote, but struggled to ensure every participant had done its part correctly.
“Back then, this was not viable for one primary reason: the missing ingredient was verification.”
Why are these changes needed
Ethereum’s computers repeat much of the same work to check that transactions follow the rules. That helps keep the network honest, but limits how much it gains from adding more computers.
Earlier attempts to divide the work assigned particular tasks to smaller groups. Coordinating those groups added delays, and the wider network could struggle to recover if one failed.
Buterin argues that mathematical proofs offer a way around that problem. A computer doing a job could provide proof that it followed the rules, allowing others to check its answer without repeating the whole calculation.
