What exactly is the “Merkle tree” often mentioned in exchange proof of reserves?
A Merkle tree is a tree-like structure that hashes large amounts of data in pairs and combines them level by level. The hash at the very top is called the Merkle root.
Data in a lightweight wallet comes from the nodes it connects to. For large deposits, you can cross-check them on several block explorers.
The header of every block $BTC records a Merkle root corresponding to all the transactions in that block. Current price: 81443.54.
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