Delegated Proof of Stake
Delegated Proof of Stake is a variation of the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism where token holders vote for a limited number of delegates to validate blocks. This approach significantly increases the transaction speed and throughput of the network by reducing the number of participants involved in the consensus process.
The elected delegates are incentivized to maintain the network reliably to keep their position and continue earning rewards. While it offers high performance, it is often criticized for being more centralized than pure proof-of-stake or proof-of-work models.
It is a popular choice for high-frequency financial applications and social platforms that require rapid settlement. The balance between efficiency and decentralization is the core trade-off in this model.