What Is ‘Hash Rate’ and Why Is It Important in PoW?

Hash rate is the total combined computational power being used to mine and process transactions on a Proof-of-Work blockchain. It is measured in hashes per second (H/s).

A higher hash rate means the network is more secure, as it requires a greater expenditure of energy and resources for an attacker to achieve a 51% attack. It is a direct measure of the network's security and the competitiveness of the mining environment.