Proof of Work (PoW) and Proof of Stake (PoS) are the two primary consensus mechanisms blockchains use to verify transactions and secure their networks without a central authority. These systems are foundational to how distributed ledgers maintain trust and prevent double-spending.
What They Are
Both PoW and PoS solve the same problem: getting a decentralized network to agree on the state of its ledger. PoW relies on computational work, while PoS uses staked tokens as collateral. But the core function—verifying transactions and securing the chain—remains identical.
