How does Merkle hash contribute to the immutability of blockchain?

3 answers

• Smith SinclairNov 06, 2021 · 4 years ago
  The Merkle hash, also known as the Merkle root, plays a crucial role in ensuring the immutability of the blockchain. It is a cryptographic hash function that takes the transactions within a block and combines them into a single hash. This hash is then included in the block header, which is linked to the previous block's header, forming a chain of blocks. By including the Merkle hash in the block header, any change in the transactions within the block will result in a different Merkle hash, which in turn will change the block header. This creates a chain of blocks where each block's header is dependent on the previous block's header and the transactions within it. Therefore, any attempt to modify a transaction within a block would require modifying all subsequent blocks in the chain, making it computationally infeasible to alter the blockchain's history. This property of the Merkle hash ensures the immutability of the blockchain, making it a secure and reliable ledger for cryptocurrencies.
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• Houston PerssonNov 21, 2020 · 5 years ago
  The Merkle hash is like the DNA of the blockchain. It is a unique identifier that represents all the transactions within a block. By including the Merkle hash in the block header, the blockchain ensures that any change in the transactions will result in a different hash value. This means that if someone tries to tamper with a transaction, the Merkle hash will change, alerting the network to the tampering attempt. The immutability of the blockchain comes from the fact that changing a single transaction would require changing the Merkle hash of that block and all subsequent blocks, which is practically impossible due to the computational power required. So, the Merkle hash acts as a safeguard against tampering and ensures the integrity of the blockchain.
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• Haagensen HagenAug 28, 2022 · 3 years ago
  The Merkle hash is an essential component of the blockchain's immutability. It works by creating a unique hash value that represents all the transactions within a block. This hash value is then included in the block header, which is linked to the previous block's header. By doing so, any change in the transactions within a block will result in a different Merkle hash, which will in turn change the block header. This creates a chain of blocks where each block's header is dependent on the previous block's header and the transactions within it. This interlinking of blocks makes it extremely difficult to alter the blockchain's history, as any modification in a single block would require recalculating the Merkle hash for that block and all subsequent blocks. This computational complexity ensures the immutability of the blockchain and makes it resistant to tampering or unauthorized modifications.
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