Clear DefinitionsSimple Payment Verification
1 min read
Pronunciation
[sim-puhl pay-muhnt ver-i-fi-kay-shun]
Analogy
SPV is like confirming a check deposit by getting a bank teller’s stamp instead of reviewing the entire ledger.
Definition
A method for verifying that a transaction is included in the blockchain without downloading the full blockchain, using only block headers and Merkle proofs.
Key Points Intro
SPV achieves lightweight security through:
Key Points
Block headers: Verifies proof‑of‑work.
Merkle branch: Confirms tx inclusion in a block.
Peer queries: Requests proofs from full nodes.
Assumed security: Relies on longest‑chain rule.
Example
A Bitcoin SPV client requests a Merkle proof for its transaction ID from an Electrum server to confirm deposit.
Technical Deep Dive
SPV client stores header chain, ensures each header’s hash meets difficulty. It sends a `merkleblock` request with a bloom filter; server returns matching tx and branch. Client reconstructs Merkle root and compares to header.
Security Warning
Malicious full nodes can withhold proofs; connect to multiple peers to reduce risk.
Caveat
Does not validate double‑spend beyond proof‑of‑work depth.
Simple Payment Verification - Related Articles
No related articles for this term.