How Optimism Implements Fault Proofs: A Detailed Overview

Optimism's recent activation of fault proofs represents a major milestone in the journey towards decentralization, completing the first stage of its roadmap. This development enhances the network's security and trustlessness by moving away from reliance on centralized entities like the Optimism Security Council. Previously, the council intervened to prevent fraudulent transactions, but the new fault proof system allows any party to challenge transactions, paving the way for a more decentralized network.

Layer 2 scaling solutions, such as rollups, are crucial due to Ethereum's high transaction fees. Optimism’s fault proofs ensure transaction validity by implementing a challenge period where anyone can contest a transaction. If a challenge is made, a fault proof is provided and verified by the Ethereum mainnet, ensuring that fraudulent transactions are reverted.

This mechanism significantly enhances the security and efficiency of the blockchain. Unlike Arbitrum, which relies on 12 validators, Optimism's fault proof system is designed to be trustless and decentralized, allowing broader participation in maintaining the blockchain's integrity.

Despite facing challenges with proof generation and verification speeds, Optimism has optimized its fault proof mechanisms to ensure compatibility with Ethereum's Learn more....