Value Overflow Bug
security · consensus
A critical arithmetic error where transaction or supply calculations wrap around and create invalid amounts.
A value overflow bug occurs when software fails to handle very large numbers safely, causing arithmetic to wrap around or pass invalid supply checks. In consensus code, this can accidentally create coins or accept impossible transactions.
Consensus implementations prevent overflow with explicit range checks, safe integer types, test vectors, code review, and agreement that invalid monetary amounts must never be accepted by nodes.
Related terms
Inflation
→A sustained rise in the general price level, reducing a currency's purchasing power over time.
economics · macroeconomics
Total Supply
→The amount of a coin or token that currently exists, including circulating, locked, reserved, and escrowed units.
tokenomics · metrics
Block Reward
→The subsidy and transaction fees a proof-of-work block is permitted to assign to its miner.
mining · distribution