What Is the Difference between Proof-of-Work and Proof-of-Stake?

Proof-of-Work (PoW) relies on computational power (mining) to validate transactions and secure the network, consuming significant energy. Proof-of-Stake (PoS) relies on economic stake (staking) where validators are chosen based on the amount of cryptocurrency they hold and are willing to "stake" as collateral.

PoS is generally considered more energy efficient and less reliant on specialized hardware.