Cross-Chain Verification Using Merkle Proof Sets

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Solution Overview

Problem

In cross-chain services between different blockchains, the data storage occupation at nodes is excessively large due to the need to maintain data from all blocks, and verification efficiency is low as a result of increased data volume.

Innovation Solution

A blockchain-based data processing method and apparatus that utilizes Merkle proof sets and block Merkle information to perform validity verification on cross-chain messages, allowing efficient cross-chain transaction execution by consensus nodes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If nodes maintain all block headers and data from other blockchains for cross-chain verification, then verification security is ensured, but data storage occupation becomes excessively large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveverification securityVSAvoiddata storage occupation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential verification elements (Merkle roots and Merkle proofs) from the complete blockchain data, allowing nodes to verify cross-chain transactions without storing all block headers and transaction data from other blockchains. This selective extraction maintains verification security while dramatically reducing storage requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The verification data is segmented into hierarchical components: block headers containing Merkle roots, and Merkle proofs containing only the necessary path information. This segmentation allows nodes to store and verify only the essential segments rather than complete blockchain data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If nodes maintain large amounts of blockchain data for cross-chain verification, then verification completeness is ensured, but verification efficiency becomes excessively low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveverification completenessVSAvoidverification efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the critical verification path (Merkle proof) needed to validate a specific transaction, eliminating the need to process and store irrelevant transaction data. This extraction enables fast verification by focusing computational resources only on the necessary proof path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of performing complete verification of all blockchain data, the patent applies partial verification using Merkle proofs that provide cryptographic assurance of transaction inclusion without requiring examination of the entire blockchain state. This partial action achieves sufficient verification completeness with dramatically improved efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4641465A1Data processing method and apparatus based on blockchain, and device and medium
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO LTD
  • EP4641465A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4641465A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4641465A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A data processing method based on a blockchain. The method, which is executed by means of a computer device that maintains a consensus node on a second blockchain, comprises: acquiring a cross-chain message submitted by means of a forwarding service device, and acquiring a blockchain identifier carried in the cross-chain message, wherein the cross-chain message is associated with cross-chain transaction data stored in a first blockchain (S101); acquiring, from a second blockchain corresponding to the blockchain identifier, block Merkle information corresponding to the first blockchain, and acquiring, from a block Merkle tree represented by the block Merkle information, a Merkle proof set corresponding to the cross-chain message, wherein the Merkle proof set includes node information of some nodes in the block Merkle tree, and the verifiable height of the block Merkle information in the first blockchain is greater than or equal to the block height of a block where the cross-chain transaction data indicated by the cross-chain message is located in the first blockchain (S102); performing validity verification on the cross-chain message according to the Merkle proof set and the block Merkle information, so as to obtain a cross-chain verification result corresponding to the cross-chain message (S103); and if the cross-chain verification result indicates that the verification is successful, acquiring a transaction execution result corresponding to the cross-chain message, and storing the transaction execution result in the second blockchain (S104).