trustless
Requiring no intermediary
Trustless describes systems designed so that participants don't need to trust each other or a central authority.
The term comes from cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, where transactions are verified by code and consensus rather than institutions: Bitcoin is trustless—you don't need to trust a bank.
Despite the negative-sounding prefix, trustless is typically positive in this context, implying security through design rather than faith.
Lacking single authority
- cryptographyScience of secure messaging
- verificationProving something accurate
- immutableIncapable of being changed
- distributedDivided and given out
consensus · peer-to-peer · non-custodial · permissionless · zero-knowledge · protocol · validator · oracle
Disposition toward doubt
- doubtLack of firm belief
- warinessCautious distrust
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
questioning · leery · suspicious · guarded · mistrustful · incredulous · dubious · unconvinced
Not consistently trustworthy
- faithlessUntrustworthy, lacking loyalty
- treacherousDisloyal and dangerous
- disloyalUntrue to commitments
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
flaky · irresponsible · shifty · deceitful · duplicitous · two-faced · perfidious · false
decentralized
Lacking single authority
- cryptographyScience of secure messaging
- verificationProving something accurate
- immutableIncapable of being changed
distributed · consensus · peer-to-peer · non-custodial · permissionless · zero-knowledge · protocol · validator · oracle · escrow
skepticism
Disposition toward doubt
disbelief · questioning · leery · suspicious · guarded · mistrustful · incredulous · dubious · unconvinced · jaded
undependable
Not consistently trustworthy
- faithlessUntrustworthy, lacking loyalty
- treacherousDisloyal and dangerous
- disloyalUntrue to commitments
unpredictable · flaky · irresponsible · shifty · deceitful · duplicitous · two-faced · perfidious · false · slippery
- cryptoBitcoin, Ethereum, blockchain, cryptocurrency, tokens
- decentralizationdecentralized, distribute, spread, disperse, scatter
- blockchainblockchain, blocks, chains, hashes, hash
- security propertiesauthenticity, authorization, availability, confidentiality, integrity
trustlesscentralized
Concentrated in one location
custodial · intermediated · trusted · faith-based · mediated
trustlesstrustworthy
Worthy of confidence
reliable · dependable · faithful · loyal · honest
trust, trusting, trustworthy, trusted, mistrust, distrust, entrust, distrustful, untrustworthy