Validation Process

Node Validation

When a submission transaction appears in a Bitcoin block, every OP_NET node independently validates it through the following steps:

1. Format Check: Verify the submission data is properly formatted.
2. Timing Check: Confirm the submission is within the correct epoch window.
3. Signature Check: Validate the Bitcoin transaction signature.
4. SHA-1 Verification: Recompute the hash to verify the claimed matching bits.
5. Attestation Check: Verify the attestation references the correct historical state.

Common Rejection Reasons

Submissions may be rejected for the following reasons:

• Late submission: The transaction was included in a block outside the submission window.
• Invalid signature: The transaction signature does not match the submitted public key.
• False collision claim: The recomputed hash does not match the claimed quality.
• Wrong attestation: The submission references an incorrect epoch or invalid state.
• Malformed data: The submission does not conform to the required format.