Stake Weighting
Stake weighting is a method of calculating the influence of a validator based on the total value of assets they have committed to the protocol. In many Proof of Stake systems, a higher stake weight increases the probability of being selected to propose a block and earn rewards.
This creates a direct correlation between economic commitment and network governance or operational power. While it encourages large-scale investment in network security, it also requires careful design to prevent the concentration of power among a few large holders.
Systems often implement limits or quadratic weighting to mitigate these centralization risks. Understanding stake weighting is essential for analyzing the distribution of power and potential collusion vectors within a decentralized ecosystem.