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Lesson 2 · 1 min · Intermediate

The family of consensus proofs

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The family of consensus proofs

There is no single “right” way to get thousands of computers to agree. Each proof system optimizes for different tradeoffs:

  • — miners burn computation; attacking requires controlling majority hash power. Used by Bitcoin.
  • — validators lock collateral; attacking requires controlling majority stake and risks . Used by Ethereum.
  • — a fixed set of approved validators (known identities) produce blocks; used on some sidechains and testnets. Faster and cheaper, but more centralized.
  • — a Solana-specific cryptographic clock that encodes time-ordering of events, used alongside PoS to speed consensus.
  • — token holders elect a small set of delegates to produce blocks (e.g. Tron, EOS). Higher throughput, more concentration.

Choosing the next block: work or stake

Proof of workminers race to hash below the targetnonce 17 → 8c2e…✗nonce 58 → f41a…✗nonce 93 → 0003…wins ✓attack needs most of the hash powerProof of stakeone validator proposes, the rest attestV132 ETHattests ✓V232 ETHproposesV332 ETHattests ✓V432 ETHattests ✓attack needs most of the stake (slashable)
Proof of work picks the next block by computation, proof of stake by locked collateral. Attacking either takes a majority: of the hash power, or of the stake, which can be slashed.
Educational only, not financial or legal advice.