Private State

Definition

Private state refers to data or information within a decentralized application or blockchain protocol that is intentionally kept confidential from public view, accessible only to authorized parties. Unlike the transparent public state of most blockchains, private state elements are encrypted or cryptographically obscured. This concept is crucial for financial applications where sensitive details, such as individual balances, trading strategies, or derivative contract terms, require confidentiality. It enables privacy within a public ledger.