Proof-of-Stake Consensus

Proof-of-stake is a consensus mechanism used by blockchains to validate transactions and reach agreement on the state of the ledger. Unlike proof-of-work, which relies on computational power, proof-of-stake requires participants to lock up, or stake, their own tokens as collateral.

Validators are chosen to propose and attest to new blocks based on the amount of tokens they hold and other protocol-specific criteria. If a validator acts maliciously, their staked tokens can be "slashed" or destroyed.

This mechanism is significantly more energy-efficient and allows for higher throughput than traditional mining. It creates a direct link between the security of the network and the value of the native token, incentivizing long-term holding and network participation.