# Proof-of-Stake {% hint style="info" %} Disambiguation: [PoW vs PoS](/glossary/disambiguation/pow-vs-pos.md) {% endhint %} **Proof-of-Stake** (PoS) is a consensus mechanism that is used by some blockchain networks to achieve distributed consensus. In a PoS system, users (also known as stakeholders) are required to "stake" a certain amount of their tokens in order to participate in the network and validate transactions. The process of staking involves holding a certain amount of tokens in a wallet and leaving them "locked" for a certain period of time. This shows that the user is committed to the network and has a vested interest in its success. The validation of transactions and the creation of new blocks on the blockchain is then determined by a combination of the amount of tokens staked by the user and a random selection process. The more tokens a user has staked, the higher their chances of being selected to validate a transaction and earn a reward. The PoS system is designed to provide a more energy-efficient and scalable alternative to PoW. Because it does not require users to solve complex computational puzzles in order to validate transactions, it is less resource-intensive and can potentially support a higher transaction throughput. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.allforone.app/glossary/definitions/decentralization/distributed-consensus/proof-of-stake.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.