How Does the Process of “Unbonding” Tokens Affect the Finality of a Transaction in PoS?

The process of "unbonding" tokens is the mandatory lock-up period after a validator decides to withdraw their stake from a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) network. This period is critical for finality because it provides a time window for the network to detect any malicious activity (like double-signing) the validator may have committed before withdrawing.

If malicious behavior is detected, the validator's stake can still be slashed during the unbonding period. This delay reinforces the economic finality by ensuring the capital is available as collateral for a sufficient time.