FTB-C000733 / Evidence concept

Merkle inclusion proof

A Merkle inclusion proof supplies the sibling commitments needed to verify one leaf against a specified tree root and size.

Also known asMerkle tree inclusion proof

Advanced 3 linked topicsEvidence-reviewed

Definitions

In plain terms

The verifier recomputes the path from the chosen leaf and compares its result with a trusted root.

Technical

D30 binds leaf bytes, index, tree size and domain-separated hashing; an inclusion path does not by itself establish extension consistency.

Scope

Inclusion of one entry does not prove every expected journal exists or every other leaf is correct.

Examples

  • A synthetic proof verifies leaf 2 against a retained seven-leaf root without sending all seven payloads.

Common misconceptions

  • An inclusion proof is not a proof that two tree versions form one append-only history.

Concept relationships

Related

Where this concept is used

Evidence and governance

  1. RFC 9162: Certificate Transparency Version 2.0, sections 2.1 and 4.10 IETF · official standard

    Supports: preferred label, short definition, variant distinction

    Limits: Experimental, not an Internet Standards Track banking standard; D30 uses its own scoped bytes and checkpoint envelope.

  2. D30 glossary teaching-profile scope, Batch 013 The Fintech Builder · internal governed contract

    Supports: technical definition

    Limits: No independent regulatory mandate, real-bank dataset, service execution, external witness or production assurance is claimed.

Reviewed by
fintech-builder-batch-013
Last reviewed
2026-10-27
Next review
2027-10-27
Record status
evidence reviewed

This record is evidence-reviewed and readable, but not yet promoted to published — it is served noindex,follow and excluded from the sitemap.

Written by

Fintech engineer building market-data and financial systems, and the author of every article, glossary record, and reference implementation on The Fintech Builder.