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Homomorphic Encryption
Encryption that allows computation directly on encrypted data without first decrypting it.
Homomorphic encryption allows computations to be performed directly on encrypted data, producing an encrypted result that, once decrypted, matches what the same computation would have produced on the original unencrypted data.
This is an active, evolving area of cryptographic research with potential blockchain applications in areas like confidential smart contract computation.
Examples
- Homomorphic encryption could theoretically let a smart contract compute on private data without ever decrypting it.
- This remains a more computationally intensive and less mature technique than many other cryptographic tools in current use.