Proof of Stake (PoS) — In Detail
Consensus mechanism without mining — validator must stake tokens to earn verification rights.
Proof of Stake (PoS) is a consensus mechanism where the right to create a block goes to a validator who has locked (staked) a certain amount of tokens as collateral — without energy-intensive mining.
How PoS works (Ethereum model): 1. Validator deposits 32 ETH (stake) 2. Randomly selected to propose block 3. Committee of other validators confirms (attests) block 4. Validator receives ETH reward (~4% APY) 5. Validator who cheats — slashing (loss of part of stake)
PoS variants:
•Delegated PoS (DPoS) — Tron, EOS: token holders vote for delegates
•Nominated PoS (NPoS) — Polkadot: nominators choose validators
•Liquid PoS — Tezos: delegate without locking
•Proof of History + PoS — Solana
Ethereum The Merge (Sept. 2022):
•Ethereum switched from PoW to PoS
•99.95% reduction in energy consumption
•Issuance reduced from 13,000 ETH/day to 1,700 ETH/day
•ETH + EIP-1559 burning = net deflationary during high activity
PoS advantages vs PoW:
•Dramatically lower energy
•Higher scalability
•Economic penalty for bad behavior (slashing)