Proof-of-Work

Disambiguation: PoW vs PoS

Proof-of-Work (PoW) is a consensus mechanism that is used by some blockchain networks to achieve distributed consensus. In a PoW system, users (also known as miners) compete to solve complex computational puzzles in order to validate transactions and add them to the blockchain.

The process of solving these puzzles involves a significant amount of computational power, and the miner who is able to solve the puzzle first is rewarded with a certain number of tokens. This provides an incentive for miners to compete and validate transactions, as they are rewarded for their efforts.

The PoW system is designed to ensure that the blockchain remains secure and tamper-proof. Because it requires a significant amount of computational power to solve the puzzles and add new blocks to the chain, it is difficult for attackers to manipulate the network or perform a 51% attack (where a group of miners control more than half of the network's computational power).