The original method Bitcoin and some other blockchains use to validate transactions, where miners compete to solve complex math puzzles using computer power.
Think of it like a gold mine — you have to put in real work and energy to extract something valuable, which is what gives it credibility.
Proof of Work is what makes Bitcoin extremely secure, but it uses a lot of electricity, which is why many newer projects have chosen alternatives.
Watch out for claims that Proof of Work is 'outdated' — it's still the most battle-tested security model in crypto and is a deliberate choice for Bitcoin's design.
The process of using powerful computers to validate transactions and add them to a blockchain, earning new crypto as a reward.
The first and most well-known cryptocurrency, created in 2009 as a digital form of money that works without banks or governments.
A method blockchains use to validate transactions where people lock up (stake) their crypto as collateral for the chance to process transactions and earn rewards.
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