What is Consensus Mechanism?
A consensus mechanism is the protocol by which distributed nodes agree on which transactions and blocks are valid. The two most common are Proof of Work (Bitcoin) and Proof of Stake (Ethereum). Both make it costly to attack honest history.
Why Consensus Mechanism matters
Understanding Consensus Mechanism is part of building a solid mental model of how Bitcoin, blockchain and Web3 systems actually work. Concepts in the Blockchain category sit at the foundation of the broader stack — get them right and the rest is far easier.
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Related terms
- Proof of Work — A consensus mechanism that requires computational work to add blocks.
- Proof of Stake — A consensus mechanism where validators stake capital instead of burning energy.
- Nakamoto Consensus — Bitcoin's consensus rule: follow the chain with the most work.
More blockchain terms
- Block — A bundle of transactions added to the blockchain.
- Blockchain — A chained, append-only ledger of blocks.
- Fork — A divergence in the blockchain or its rules.
- Node — A computer participating in the blockchain network.
- Reorganization (Reorg) — Replacing recent blocks with a competing chain that has more work.
- Transaction — A signed instruction that updates the blockchain state.
- Block Time — Average interval between consecutive blocks.
- Genesis Block — The first block in a blockchain.
Keep exploring
Continue with the full blockchain glossary — 136 terms in total — or read the developer blog and FAQ for deeper context.