What Is a "Zero-Confirmation" Transaction and What Are Its Inherent Risks? ⎊ Path

What Is a “Zero-Confirmation” Transaction and What Are Its Inherent Risks?

A zero-confirmation transaction is one that has been broadcast to the network but has not yet been included in a mined block. The inherent risk is that the transaction is not final and can be easily reversed or double-spent.

The transaction may never be confirmed if a conflicting transaction with a higher fee is broadcast and included in a block first. Merchants who accept zero-confirmation transactions prioritize speed over security, making them vulnerable to race attacks and simple double-spends.

How Does Network Congestion Affect Confirmation Time and Double-Spend Risk?

What Is a “Race Attack” and How Does It Differ from a Standard Double-Spend?

Can a Double-Spend Attack Occur without a 51 Percent Attack?

What Is a ‘Race Attack’ and How Does It Differ from a 51% Double-Spend?

How Does the Mempool Relate to a Double-Spend Attempt?

What Role Does Transaction Confirmation Depth Play in Mitigating the Risk of a Double-Spend?

What Is a “Race Attack” in the Context of Double-Spending?

How Does Transaction Finality Relate to the Vulnerability of a Double-Spend Attack?