Can a PoA Chain Still Experience a Chain Split or Fork?
Yes, a PoA chain can still experience a chain split or fork, especially a temporary one. If two PoW miners find a valid blank block header simultaneously, or if PoS validators sign two different blocks, a fork can occur.
However, the PoS phase, with its finality mechanism and slashing penalties, is designed to quickly resolve these forks by incentivizing validators to commit to a single chain, making long-lasting splits unlikely.
Glossar
PoA
Mechanism ⎊ Proof of Authority (PoA) is a consensus mechanism where transactions are validated by a limited number of pre-approved, trusted validators rather than through competitive mining.
Chain Split
Protocol Division ⎊ A Chain Split represents a fundamental divergence in the transaction history of a blockchain, resulting in two separate, independently operating ledgers that share a common past up to the point of the split.