What Is “Checkpointing” as a Security Measure?

In cryptocurrency, checkpointing is a security measure where periodic snapshots of a blockchain's state are taken and anchored to a more secure blockchain, like Ethereum. This process ensures that, in the event of a security breach or malicious attack, the system can be reverted to the last known good state, preserving the integrity of the blockchain and its assets.

Checkpoints are a key feature of some blockchain protocols, such as Polygon, to enhance their security.

How Do State Changes in a Smart Contract Get Recorded on the Blockchain?
What Is the Primary Difference between a ‘View’ Function and a ‘State-Changing’ Function?
How Does Checkpointing Differ from a Regular Backup in the Context of a Blockchain?
What Are the Potential Drawbacks or Vulnerabilities of Relying on Checkpointing for Security?
How Does the Frequency of Checkpoints Impact the Security and Performance of a Blockchain Network?
What Are the Security Trade-Offs between a Highly Decentralized Network and One That Uses Checkpointing?
What Is a “Finality Gadget” and How Does It Differ from Checkpointing?
What Is a ‘State Transition’ in the Context of Blockchain Rollups?

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