Overview
Formal verification is mathematically proving that a smart contract behaves according to its specification. It provides stronger guarantees than testing or auditing. It is used for high-value protocols.
How It Works
A formal model of the contract is checked against its intended behavior using mathematical proof tools. The process catches edge cases that manual review misses. It is rigorous but expensive and complex.
Why It Matters
Formal verification can eliminate entire classes of bugs, making it valuable for critical contracts like bridges and stablecoins. Its cost limits adoption. It represents the frontier of smart contract safety.
Related Concepts
Formal Verification complements Smart Contract Audits and relates to Smart Contract correctness. It is used in high-security protocols.