When working with blockchain consensus, the set of rules that lets all participants on a distributed ledger agree on which transactions are valid. Also known as consensus algorithm, it underpins every decentralized system that claims trust‑lessness.
One of the most common forms is Proof of Work, a mechanism where miners solve cryptographic puzzles to add a block. This directly ties into mining difficulty, a dynamic target that keeps block times stable despite fluctuating hash power. The higher the difficulty, the more compute power you need, which in turn strengthens security. Proof of Work is what Bitcoin uses, and it demands powerful hardware, massive electricity, and constant difficulty adjustments.
Proof of Stake, an alternative where validators lock up tokens as collateral and are chosen to propose blocks based on stake weight eliminates the need for energy‑hungry mining. Instead of a race, it’s a lottery weighted by how much you stake, making the network faster and cheaper. Both PoW and PoS rely on blockchain nodes, computers that store a full copy of the ledger and enforce consensus rules. Full nodes verify every transaction, light nodes download just the headers, and miner nodes combine validation with block creation.
Understanding these building blocks helps you see why a change in consensus—say, moving from PoW to PoS—can reshape everything from tokenomics to energy consumption. In the articles below you’ll find deep dives on Bitcoin’s nonce range, the technical split between legacy and new Hatch tokens, how mining farms affect energy grids, and even how blockchain can protect patents. Grab the insights that match your level, whether you’re a developer, investor, or curious newbie, and explore the full range of consensus‑related topics we’ve curated for you.
Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT) is the key that lets blockchains stay secure even when some nodes act maliciously. Learn how BFT works, its main algorithms, trade‑offs, real‑world uses, and future trends.
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