What is Merkle Proof?
A Merkle proof is the small set of hashes needed to recompute a block's Merkle root from a single transaction. SPV wallets and light clients use Merkle proofs to verify that a transaction was included in a block without downloading the entire block.
Why Merkle Proof matters
Understanding Merkle Proof is part of building a solid mental model of how Bitcoin, blockchain and Web3 systems actually work. Concepts in the Cryptography category sit at the foundation of the broader stack — get them right and the rest is far easier.
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- Bitcoin 101 — interactive fundamentals course
- Bitcoin Proof of Work — mining, hashing and consensus
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Related terms
- Merkle Tree — A binary tree of hashes used to summarise data efficiently.
- Merkle Root — The single hash summarising all transactions in a block.
- SPV (Simplified Payment Verification) — A way to verify Bitcoin transactions without downloading the full chain.
More cryptography terms
- Digital Signature — A cryptographic proof that the holder of a private key authorised a message.
- ECDSA — Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm.
- Hash Function — A deterministic function mapping arbitrary input to fixed-size output.
- Private Key — The secret number that authorises spending from an address.
- Public Key — The shareable counterpart to a private key.
- SHA-256 — The hash function Bitcoin uses everywhere.
- Zero-Knowledge Proof — Proving you know something without revealing what it is.
- Schnorr Signature — A signature scheme enabling key aggregation.
Keep exploring
Continue with the full blockchain glossary — 136 terms in total — or read the developer blog and FAQ for deeper context.