# How Does a PoS System Recover from a Situation Where Finality Is Not Achieved? ⎊ Path

**Published:** 2025-12-04
**Author:** Greeks.live
**Categories:** Path

---

## How Does a PoS System Recover from a Situation Where Finality Is Not Achieved?

If the network fails to achieve the two-thirds supermajority required for finality, the chain enters a "non-finalizing" state. Ethereum uses an "inactivity leak" mechanism to recover.

This mechanism gradually reduces the stake of validators who are offline or not attesting. This process eventually causes the non-participating validators to fall below the two-thirds threshold, allowing the remaining, honest, and active validators to regain the supermajority and resume finalization.

- [How Does “Slashing” in PoS Incentivize Good Behavior from Validators?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-slashing-in-pos-incentivize-good-behavior-from-validators/)

- [How Does “Slashing” Mitigate the “Nothing at Stake” Problem?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-slashing-mitigate-the-nothing-at-stake-problem/)

- [What Is the Role of a “Supermajority” in PoS Finality?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-is-the-role-of-a-supermajority-in-pos-finality/)

- [What Is the Difference between ‘Slashing’ and ‘Inactivity Leak’?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-is-the-difference-between-slashing-and-inactivity-leak/)

- [How Does a PoS Re-Org Affect Staking Rewards for Honest Validators?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-a-pos-re-org-affect-staking-rewards-for-honest-validators/)

- [How Does Transaction Finality Work in a pBFT-based System?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-transaction-finality-work-in-a-pbft-based-system/)

- [Explain the Concept of “Economic Finality” in a PoS Blockchain](https://learn.greeks.live/path/explain-the-concept-of-economic-finality-in-a-pos-blockchain/)

- [What Is an “Inactivity Leak” and How Does It Differ from a Full Slash?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-is-an-inactivity-leak-and-how-does-it-differ-from-a-full-slash/)

## Glossar

### [Supermajority](https://learn.greeks.live/area/supermajority/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)

Decision ⎊ The requirement for a supermajority dictates the minimum necessary level of agreement among stakeholders or validators to enact a critical protocol change or confirm a block.

### [PoS System](https://learn.greeks.live/area/pos-system/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)

Architecture ⎊ This consensus mechanism relies on a set of validators who lock up a quantity of the native cryptocurrency as collateral to gain the right to propose and attest to new blocks on the chain.

### [Validators](https://learn.greeks.live/area/validators/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)

Attestation ⎊ Validators, within cryptocurrency networks, represent nodes actively participating in a consensus mechanism, verifying and attesting to the validity of new blocks or transactions.

### [Delayed Settlement](https://learn.greeks.live/area/delayed-settlement/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)

Process ⎊ Delayed settlement refers to the time lag between the execution of a trade and the final transfer of assets and funds between counterparties.

### [Inflation Rate](https://learn.greeks.live/area/inflation-rate/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)

Metric ⎊ The Inflation Rate, in the context of cryptocurrency, is a key economic metric representing the rate at which the total supply of a token increases over a specified period, typically through block rewards or staking payouts.

### [Inactivity Leak](https://learn.greeks.live/area/inactivity-leak/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)

Exposure ⎊ This term describes the latent security risk that arises when private keys associated with an address remain static and unused over extended periods, particularly in cold storage.

## Discover More

### [Why Are Highly Customized OTC Derivatives Still Not Centrally Cleared?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/why-are-highly-customized-otc-derivatives-still-not-centrally-cleared/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![Why Are Highly Customized OTC Derivatives Still Not Centrally Cleared?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Abstract-Representation-of-Multi-Asset-Digital-Collateralization-Frameworks-and-Strike-Price-Mechanisms.webp)

Non-standard terms and lack of fungibility prevent a CCP from finding offsetting trades or creating a standardized risk model.

### [How Does a Validator's Stake Act as a Security Bond in a PoS System?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-a-validators-stake-act-as-a-security-bond-in-a-pos-system/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![How Does a Validator's Stake Act as a Security Bond in a PoS System?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Asymmetrical-Volatility-Surface-Representation-in-Decentralized-Option-Primitives-Configuration.webp)

The validator's stake is locked collateral that is seized (slashed) for malicious acts, economically bonding them to honest behavior.

### [What Regulatory Responsibilities Does an IB Have despite Not Holding Customer Funds?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-regulatory-responsibilities-does-an-ib-have-despite-not-holding-customer-funds/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![What Regulatory Responsibilities Does an IB Have despite Not Holding Customer Funds?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Biomimetic-Dual-Convex-Crystalline-Structure-Reflecting-Decentralized-Finance-Volatility-Spreads.webp)

IBs must comply with KYC, AML, truthful solicitation, and maintain CFTC registration and NFA membership, despite not holding customer funds.

### [Why Do Perpetual Futures Contracts Not Have an Expiration Date?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/why-do-perpetual-futures-contracts-not-have-an-expiration-date/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![Why Do Perpetual Futures Contracts Not Have an Expiration Date?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Precision-Engineering-of-Digital-Asset-Futures-Contract-Settlement-Mechanism-Visualization.webp)

They use the funding rate to anchor the contract price to the spot price, eliminating the need for a fixed expiration date or mandatory settlement.

### [How Does the 'Economic Finality' of PoS Compare to the 'Probabilistic Finality' of PoW?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-the-economic-finality-of-pos-compare-to-the-probabilistic-finality-of-pow/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![How Does the 'Economic Finality' of PoS Compare to the 'Probabilistic Finality' of PoW?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Asymmetric-Glass-Abstraction-Modeling-Liquidity-Provision-in-Decentralized-Exchange-Order-Books.webp)

PoS offers 'economic finality' (irreversible due to slashing) while PoW offers 'probabilistic finality' (reversal is increasingly unlikely).

### [What Legal and Regulatory Challenges Do DAOs Face That Traditional Corporations Do Not?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-legal-and-regulatory-challenges-do-daos-face-that-traditional-corporations-do-not/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![What Legal and Regulatory Challenges Do DAOs Face That Traditional Corporations Do Not?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Reflective-Substrate-Interaction-with-Magnetic-Coil-Assembly-Simulating-Decentralized-Exchange-Liquidity-Pools.webp)

DAOs struggle with unclear legal status, member liability, regulatory jurisdiction, and interfacing with traditional financial systems.

### [Why Is Variation Margin Not Typically Required for Physically-Settled Futures Contracts?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/why-is-variation-margin-not-typically-required-for-physically-settled-futures-contracts/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![Why Is Variation Margin Not Typically Required for Physically-Settled Futures Contracts?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Decoupled-Cryptographic-Asset-Custody-Mechanism-Exhibiting-Interconnected-Data-Conduit-Structures.webp)

Variation margin is usually for cash-settled futures; physically-settled futures settle the full value on expiration, though initial margin applies.

### [How Do Proof-of-Stake (PoS) Systems Achieve Economic Finality Differently than PoW Systems?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-do-proof-of-stake-pos-systems-achieve-economic-finality-differently-than-pow-systems/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![How Do Proof-of-Stake (PoS) Systems Achieve Economic Finality Differently than PoW Systems?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Layered-Digital-Asset-Futures-Contracts-Structure-Revealing-Underlying-Blockchain-Consensus-Mechanisms.webp)

PoS uses stake finality via supermajority consensus and slashing of staked collateral, a deterministic penalty versus PoW's probabilistic cost.

### [How Do Custodians Ensure That the Air-Gapped System Itself Has Not Been Compromised Prior to Deployment?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-do-custodians-ensure-that-the-air-gapped-system-itself-has-not-been-compromised-prior-to-deployment/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![How Do Custodians Ensure That the Air-Gapped System Itself Has Not Been Compromised Prior to Deployment?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Aerodynamic-Fin-Deployment-Mechanism-Signaling-Liquidity-Pool-Rebalancing-in-Decentralized-Finance-Protocols.webp)

Rigorous supply chain vetting, forensic hardware analysis, and cryptographic verification of firmware/OS integrity in a secure environment.

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**Original URL:** https://learn.greeks.live/learn/how-does-a-pos-system-recover-from-a-situation-where-finality-is-not-achieved/
