Why Would a Non-Deterministic Hash Function Be Disastrous for a Blockchain?
A non-deterministic hash function would be disastrous because it would break the core consensus mechanism of the blockchain. If the same input data (e.g. a block of transactions) produced different hash outputs for different nodes, nodes would never agree on the correct Merkle Root or block hash.
This would lead to constant chain splits, preventing the network from reaching consensus and making it impossible to verify the integrity of the ledger. Determinism is non-negotiable for a public, distributed ledger.
Glossar
Hash Function
Function ⎊ A hash function is a mathematical algorithm that takes an input of arbitrary size and produces a fixed-size output, known as a hash value or digest.
Non-Deterministic Hash
Concept ⎊ A non-deterministic hash refers to a theoretical or improperly implemented hash function where the same input data can produce different output hash values across multiple executions or different computing environments.
Reaching Consensus
Process ⎊ Reaching consensus is the fundamental agreement mechanism within a distributed ledger technology network, ensuring all participating nodes validate transactions and the state of the ledger identically, which underpins trust in all on-chain financial operations.