"Blockchain technology is energy-intensive..." => No, it doesn't have to be.

Let's look at Proof-Of-Stake, an alternative to the energy-intensive Proof-Of-Work algorithm.

🧵🔽

1️⃣ A Quick Recap On Proof-Of-Work

A Proof-Of-Work algorithm requires miners to do a certain amount of work that is compute-intensive to gain access to a service or the right to do something. This algorithm, by design, also requires that the work done shall not ...
... be reusable for anything else than what it was performed for. This lies at the core of the security concept of a blockchain. To gain the right to append a new block to a chain and to get some currency as a reward, there is work to be done, and this work must be verifyable.
That work is a race between different miners. Many miners try to compete and to be the first to find the answer to a problem presented to them. This implies that a lot of energy is wasted as only the first correct solution is accepted.
You can find a more detailed thread on Proof-Of-Work here:

https://t.co/VGzmmbMisE
2️⃣ Enter Proof-Of-Stake

Proof-Of-Stake is another algorithm, designed to create distributed consensus on a blockchain while being less energy-intensive and more scalable than Proof-Of-Work.
The first mention (I know of) of Proof-Of-Stake dates back to 2011 when it was discussed on the Bitcointalk forums.

While having the same goal as Proof-Of-Work, distributed consensus, the process is completely different.
3️⃣ How It Works

A Blockchain that uses Proof-Of-Stake chooses a node to create and append the next block randomly. This process of appending a new block to the chain is usually called "forging" and not "mining".
To be eligible to be chosen, nodes must stake some of the chain's cryptocurrency. This means that a certain amount of coins is locked away and can't be accessed for as long as the node wants to act as a forger.
If a new block is to be appended to the chain, the network randomly chooses between all nodes that have staked at least the minimum amount of coins required. This draft is usually weighted which could mean that the node with the largest amount staked has the ...
... highest chance to be chosen. To compensate this, blockchains usually take other factors into account like the age of the node's stake.

Whenever a node is chosen to forge a new block, the stake's age is reset to zero to distribute forging among all nodes ...
... a little more equal.

There are many other factors that can be taken into account and they are usually as individual as the blockchain using Proof-Of-Stake. Taking a look at the specific blockchain's whitepaper usually helps you to decide whether the chain is legit ...
... and it is worth setting up a forging node for it or if it's not working in everyone else's favor.

When chosen, a forging node checks whether all transactions for the next block are valid. It then signs the block and appends it to the chain.
The stake of a forging node is always at risk. If a node harmfully tries to insert manipulated blocks into the chain and the network notices, it loses its stake and is banned from ever participating in the forging process again.
This is to ensure that all parties involved in the forging process play by the rules as there is a lot of money at risk when they commit a fraud.
A forging node that wants to exit the forging process usually needs to wait for some time until its stake is released. This time is used to recheck all the blocks it ever forged. This is the last time a potential fraud can be detected.
Only after the check completed successfully, the stake is released and can be transferred again.
4️⃣ That's It

Well, we are at the end of this thread, and I hope you now understand Proof-Of-Stake, the alternative to the energy-intensive Proof-Of-Work a little better.
If you enjoy threads like this one, drop a like, comment with you feedback, and follow me if you want more content like this. Your support is highly appreciated!
5️⃣ A Small Addition

Forging nodes are also often called validators. The process is still called forging but validators validate transactions which is where this name comes from.

More from Crypto

A primer on how to use @coingecko for your crypto data/research/trading needs.

Share it with a friend who needs it!

1/ Getting started with crypto and want to check prices/projects? https://t.co/LFnk4vukxj has info on just about every crypto you'll need :)


2/ Search over 6000+ cryptocurrencies available on the market. You can see what's trending in the space as well.

Researching by categories? Filter (left side) -> Select categories -> DeFi, DOT ecosystem, Exchange-based tokens, NFTs - anything!


3/ Lets say you're looking at #Bitcoin
https://t.co/g205lj03pG

At a glance you get:
- Price
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Next - check valuation?


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Note: used @chainlink as example here - https://t.co/Jc46fe79Ag

While MC is important also consider product fit, narrative, team, community etc.


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See: https://t.co/94XihMf5oz

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हिमालय पर्वत की एक बड़ी पवित्र गुफा थी।उस गुफा के निकट ही गंगा जी बहती थी।एक बार देवर्षि नारद विचरण करते हुए वहां आ पहुंचे।वह परम पवित्र गुफा नारद जी को अत्यंत सुहावनी लगी।वहां का मनोरम प्राकृतिक दृश्य,पर्वत,नदी और वन देख उनके हृदय में श्रीहरि विष्णु की भक्ति अत्यंत बलवती हो उठी।


और देवर्षि नारद वहीं बैठकर तपस्या में लीन हो गए।इन्द्र नारद की तपस्या से घबरा गए।उन्हें हमेशा की तरह अपना सिंहासन व स्वर्ग खोने का डर सताने लगा।इसलिए इन्द्र ने नारद की तपस्या भंग करने के लिए कामदेव को उनके पास भेज दिया।वहां पहुंच कामदेव ने अपनी माया से वसंतऋतु को उत्पन्न कर दिया।


पेड़ और पौधों पर रंग बिरंगे फूल खिल गए और कोयलें कूकने लगी,पक्षी चहकने लगे।शीतल,मंद,सुगंधित और सुहावनी हवा चलने लगी।रंभा आदि अप्सराएं नाचने लगीं ।किन्तु कामदेव की किसी भी माया का नारद पे कोई प्रभाव नहीं पड़ा।तब कामदेव को डर सताने लगा कि कहीं नारद क्रोध में आकर मुझे श्राप न देदें।

जैसे ही नारद ने अपनी आंखें खोली, उसी क्षण कामदेव ने उनसे क्षमा मांगी।नारद मुनि को तनिक भी क्रोध नहीं आया और उन्होने शीघ्र ही कामदेव को क्षमा कर दिया।कामदेव प्रसन्न होकर वहां से चले गए।कामदेव के चले जाने पर देवर्षि के मन में अहंकार आ गया कि मैने कामदेव को हरा दिया।

नारद फिर कैलाश जा पहुंचे और शिवजी को अपनी विजयगाथा सुनाई।शिव समझ गए कि नारद अहंकारी हो गए हैं और अगर ये बात विष्णु जी जान गए तो नारद के लिए अच्छा नहीं होगा।ये सोचकर शिवजी ने नारद को भगवन विष्णु को ये बात बताने के लीए मना किया। परंतु नारद जी को ये बात उचित नहीं लगी।