Definition
A cross-chain validator is a network role that participates in the consensus or verification processes of two or more distinct blockchains or interoperability layers, with explicit responsibility for attesting to state, messages, or transactions that traverse chain boundaries. It maintains security assumptions across heterogeneous consensus domains by validating cross-chain data, signing or relaying cryptographic proofs, and enforcing protocol-defined correctness conditions for inter-chain communication.
In Simple Terms
A cross-chain validator is a specialized validator that works across more than one blockchain. Its role is to check and confirm information that moves between different chains, helping ensure that cross-chain messages or transactions are valid and consistent according to the rules set by the involved networks or interoperability protocols.
Context and Usage
The term cross-chain validator appears in discussions of interoperability architectures, multi-chain ecosystems, and bridge or messaging protocols that rely on shared or overlapping validator sets. It is used to distinguish entities that validate only within a single chain from those that also attest to cross-chain state or message correctness. The concept is relevant in protocol design, security modeling, and governance of systems that coordinate consensus across multiple networks.