How Does the Concept of ‘Consensus Mechanism’ Relate to the Underlying Blockchain Technology?
A consensus mechanism is the protocol that enables all nodes in a decentralized blockchain network to agree on the single, true state of the ledger, preventing double-spending. It is fundamental to the blockchain's security and operation.
Examples include Proof-of-Work (PoW) and Proof-of-Stake (PoS). The choice of mechanism significantly impacts the network's speed, energy consumption, and decentralization level, which are key factors for a crypto project's viability.