Consensus

Consensus is the mechanism that ensures data consistency across network nodes without central authority. It defines how new blocks are added to the chain and which transactions are considered valid. There are several types of consensus mechanisms. Proof-of-Work (PoW) relies on computational power to secure the network (as in Bitcoin), while Proof-of-Stake (PoS) uses token staking to select validators (as in Ethereum). Other models include Delegated PoS (DPoS), Proof-of-Authority (PoA), and Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT). A robust consensus mechanism is essential for blockchain security, stability, and decentralization.