Machine state is also maintained internally by the EVM.
An iterator function (detailed in the next section) runs in the virtual machine, which outputs the results of a single cycle of the state machine.
Verifying Data Integrity in Blockchain (Part 2)
Machine state is a tuple that consists of the following elements: Available gas The program counter, which is a positive integer up to 256 memory contents Contents of the stack Active number of words in memory Contents of the stack The EVM is designed to handle exceptions and will halt (stop execution) in case any of the following exceptions occur: Not having enough gas required for execution invalid instructions Insufficient stack items Invalid destination of jump opcodes Invalid stack size (greater than 1024)
Machine state Machine state is also maintained internally by the EVM. Machine state is updated after each execution cycle of EVM. An iterator function (detailed in the next section) runs in the virtual machine, which outputs the results of a single cycle of the state machine. Machine state is a tuple that consists of the following elements: Available gas The program counter, which is a positive integer up to 256 memory contents Contents of the stack Active number of words in memory Contents of the stack The EVM is designed to handle exceptions and will halt (stop execution) in case any of the following exceptions occur: Not having enough gas required for execution invalid instructions Insufficient stack items Invalid destination of jump opcodes Invalid stack size (greater than 1024)
Why This Matters for Blockchain Technology
Understanding Machine state is not just an academic exercise — it has real-world implications for how blockchain systems are designed, deployed, and secured. Whether you are a developer building decentralized applications, a business leader evaluating blockchain adoption, or a curious learner exploring the technology, this knowledge provides a critical foundation.
Key Points to Remember
- Machine state is a core component of modern blockchain architecture.
- It enables trustless, decentralized operation without relying on a central authority.
- Both public and private blockchain networks leverage this concept in their design.
- Developers and architects must understand this concept to build robust, production-grade blockchain solutions.
Conclusion
Machine state represents one of the many innovative layers that make blockchain technology so powerful and transformative. As distributed systems continue to evolve, a solid understanding of these core concepts becomes increasingly valuable — not just for developers, but for anyone building, investing in, or working alongside blockchain-powered systems.
Whether you are just starting your blockchain journey or deepening existing expertise, mastering these fundamentals gives you the tools to think clearly about decentralized systems and make smarter decisions in this rapidly evolving space.