In very simple terms, a Merkle Tree is a way of structuring data that allows a large body of information to be verified for accuracy both extremely efficiently and quickly. In this article we cover all you need to know about Merkle Trees, and why they are important for blockchain technology.
https://selfkey.org/what-is-a-merkle-tree-and-how-does-it-affect-blockchain-technology/In all likelihood, if Merkle Trees had never been invented, cryptocurrency and blockchain technology would have never existed. Unless there was a viable alternative, the amount of computing power and storage would simply be too expensive to run. It is fascinating that a relatively old idea is still being used in modern technology, and is one of the reasons this technology can run efficiently in the first place.
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