What is Slashing?
Slashing is the protocol-enforced penalty that destroys a portion of a validator's staked tokens when they break consensus rules — typically by signing conflicting blocks or going offline for extended periods. Slashing makes Proof of Stake economically secure.
Why Slashing matters
Understanding Slashing is part of building a solid mental model of how Bitcoin, blockchain and Web3 systems actually work. Concepts in the Security category sit at the foundation of the broader stack — get them right and the rest is far easier.
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Reading the definition is a start. ZeroToBlock teaches concepts like Slashing through hands-on, browser-based simulations. Build the mental model by actually using it:
- Bitcoin 101 — interactive fundamentals course
- Bitcoin Proof of Work — mining, hashing and consensus
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Related terms
- Validator — A node that proposes and attests to blocks in PoS.
- Proof of Stake — A consensus mechanism where validators stake capital instead of burning energy.
- Staking — Locking tokens to secure a network and earn rewards.
More security terms
- Seed Phrase — A human-readable backup of a wallet's private keys.
- Wallet — Software or hardware that manages your private keys.
- 51% Attack — An attack where one party controls majority hash power.
- Cold Storage — Keeping private keys offline for security.
- Custody — Who controls the private keys.
- Multi-Signature (Multisig) — A wallet requiring multiple keys to spend.
- Hardware Wallet — A dedicated device that signs transactions offline.
- Hot Wallet — A wallet whose keys live on an internet-connected device.
Keep exploring
Continue with the full blockchain glossary — 136 terms in total — or read the developer blog and FAQ for deeper context.