Consensus Throughput Constraints

Consensus throughput constraints are the inherent limitations on the number of transactions a network can process per second due to its validation mechanism. These constraints are dictated by the block size, block time, and the computational requirements imposed on nodes.

Because every node must verify the state transitions, the network is limited by the slowest participant. This forces a trade-off between the degree of decentralization and the speed of transaction finality.

Advanced consensus models attempt to alleviate these constraints through parallel execution or sharding. Without addressing these bottlenecks, networks struggle to compete with centralized payment systems during periods of high demand.