How Does a “Hash Time-Locked Contract” (HTLC) Facilitate Trustless On-Chain Settlement?
An HTLC is a type of smart contract that requires the recipient to provide cryptographic proof, a "pre-image," of a secret within a specified time limit to claim the funds. If the time limit expires, the funds are returned to the sender.
This mechanism enables secure, trustless, and atomic swaps of assets across different blockchains.
Glossar
HTLC
Definition ⎊ HTLC is the acronym for Hash Time Lock Contract, a cryptographic primitive essential for enabling secure, non-custodial exchanges across different blockchain environments or for conditional settlement in complex decentralized financial instruments.
Trustless
Architecture ⎊ The concept of trustlessness, within cryptocurrency, options trading, and financial derivatives, fundamentally redefines reliance on intermediaries.