Proof of Stake & Proof of Work – Cryptocurrencies for Verifying New Transactions

Proof of Stake & Proof of Work, These two concepts are essential part of cryptocurrency and are used frequently in various articles. So in this article, we are going to clear these two concepts at large, so that it helps in trusting cryptocurrencies accordingly and investing in the same. “Proof of work” and “Proof of stake” are the two major tools which are use by cryptocurrencies for verifying new transactions and adding them to blockchain, as well as newer tokens being created by them.

Where Proof of work was first build by Bitcoin, with the aid of mining for achieving the mutually consented goals. Proof of Stake on the other hand was employed by Cardano, the ETH2 blockchain and others, basically new cryptocurrencies.
These decentralised cryptocurrency networks require to assure that no one spends similar amount of money twice with not having any central authority as PayPal or Visa as medium. For accomplishing the same, network uses a “consensus mechanism” (a system allowing every computer in crypto network for accepting those transactions which are legal). Proof of Work is essential to understand before describing any detail on Proof of Stake.

Details of Proof of Work

Proof of Work was initially used by bitcoin and both the concepts as Proof of Work and mining are connected with each other very closely. Proof of Work had its name as such because the requirement of network is evolved around ample amount of processing power. This mechanism’s blockchains are so secured and are also verified by the virtual miners round the globe trying to become the first for solving a maths puzzle. The winner would simultaneously update the blockchain with its currently verified transactions and being rewarded by network with certain amount ascertained in concern with crypto.

It also beholds certain supportive advantages in specific to most popular cryptocurrencyBitcoin. In this manner, appropriate and secure decentralisedblockchain is maintained. With the increase in value of cryptocurrency’s growth, add on miners are incentivised for joining the network, thereby enhancing its security and power. Due to the value of processing power being included, it’s next to impossible for any individual or group to intervene with valuable blockchain of cryptocurrency.

While considering at the other side of the energy efficient process, which could have trouble scaling for accommodating large number of transactions, smart contract supporting blockchains as Ethereum could generate. Alternate to this, Proof of Stake has come into being.

Details of Proof of Stake

The developers of Ethereum have since the beginning, made themselves clear with proof of work being presenting limitations in terms of scalability which would be required to be overcome. Also the Ethereum based decentralised finance protocols have gone in being famous, thereby blockchain has some how survived and made its place, but had made fees to hike. Where Bitcoin blockchain majorly focuses on processing both incoming and outgoing transactions as much as huge checkbook, Ethereum’s blockchain needs to process huge array of DeFi transactions, smart contracts, stablecoin, NFT minting and sales and all sorts of innovations which the developers are about to bring in near future.

Their main target is on creating of an all new ETH2 blockchain which had come out in December 2020 and was expected to finish by 2022. Upgraded version of Ethereum would go for making work, an entire less resource and fast mechanism known as proof of stake. The cryptocurrencies which include Tezos, Atmos and Cardano, each one uses proof-of-stake mechanism, having a basic goal of enhancing efficiency and speed but with lowered fees.

Staking works as same with relation to proof of work mining, in proof of stake system. As it’s the process through which a network participant is selected in a manner by which its being added in current batch of transactions to blockchain and thereby earn in exchange some of the crypto. The proof of stake blockchains tend to employ a network of validators who “stake” their very own crypto in exchange for attaining an attempt for validating newer transactions, also earning a reward and updating blockchain. Focusing on some points would make proof of stake more clear:

• Depending on the amount of crypto which every validator is having in the pool and the amount of time they have there, is a reward for maximum invested participants and the network thereafter selects the winner accordingly.
• When the winner validates current block of transactions, other validators could make sure about the block’s accuracy. The network is further updating the blockchain, when a lot of attestations have been done.
• Each validator who is taking part would receive reward in native cryptocurrency being locally distributed by network in level to every validator’s stake.

To become a validator is a big issue and demands higher side of technical knowledge. The crypto which validators would demand of staking is actually high mostly(for ETH2, for instance, it’s 32 ETH) and validators could also lose some of stake with the help of a process known as slashing, in case their node goes offline or even if they validate ‘bad’ block of transactions.

Proof of Stake & Proof of Work

Proof of Work vs Proof of Stake

Basic point of difference between the two is, “Energy consumption”, cause proof-of-stake blockchains won’t require miners for spending electricity on duplicative processes (same puzzle solving competition), proof of stake therefore give permission to the networks for operating with particularly consuming low resource. Resultant, both these mechanisms are holding economic after effects, which put penalty on network disruptions and try to frustrate malicious actors.

Whereas, in proof-of-work, penalty for minors who tend to provide invalid information, blocks, is the sunk cost of computing energy, power and time. In proof of stake the validator’s, stake the crypto funds serving as economic incentive for working in a manner which brings the best out of networks. Where, if the validator is going ahead with accepting a bad block then a part of their staked funds would be “slashed” in form of penalty and the network only decides how much amount would be slashed by a validator.

With these differences you are now more clear to put both these mechanisms while trading with Cryptocurrency effectively and as described above proof of stake is the resultant alternate to proof of work.