Skip to main content

​
Why consensus exists

Distributed networks need a method for deciding which transactions are valid, how they are ordered, and which version of network state participants should accept.

​
Common models

Proof of Work and Proof of Stake are widely known consensus families, but implementations vary substantially. Networks may also use BFT-style protocols, validator committees, delegated designs, or hybrid systems.

​
What to evaluate

When comparing consensus systems, consider security assumptions, validator incentives, finality, fault tolerance, hardware requirements, decentralization, and governance—not only transactions per second.