Differentiate between Proof-of-Work (PoW) and Proof-of-Stake (PoS) Consensus Mechanisms

Proof-of-Work (PoW) relies on miners expending computational energy to solve complex mathematical puzzles to validate transactions and create new blocks. This energy expenditure secures the network.

Proof-of-Stake (PoS) relies on validators who "stake" or lock up their existing cryptocurrency holdings to gain the right to validate transactions and create blocks. PoW is secured by energy and hardware, while PoS is secured by economic value (the staked coins).

PoS is generally considered more energy-efficient.