What Is a “Sybil Attack” and Why Is It Less Effective on a Consortium Chain?

A Sybil attack is a security threat where a single entity attempts to gain a disproportionately large influence over a decentralized network by creating and operating multiple false identities (nodes). It is less effective on a consortium chain because the network is permissioned.

New nodes cannot join without the explicit approval and vetting of the governing consortium. This pre-approval process prevents an attacker from creating multiple pseudonymous identities to gain a majority stake.