Block Production Centralization

Definition ∞ Block production centralization refers to the concentration of power or control over the creation of new blocks within a blockchain network among a limited number of entities. This occurs when a small group of miners, validators, or block builders collectively account for a disproportionately large share of block proposals. Such a scenario can result from economic advantages, technological superiority, or specific protocol designs. It impacts the network’s distributed nature.
Context ∞ Block production centralization is a key concern for the long-term health and security of decentralized networks. Debates often revolve around its potential implications for censorship resistance, network resilience, and the fundamental principles of blockchain immutability. A critical future development involves the continuous design and implementation of protocol improvements and incentive structures aimed at fostering a more distributed and equitable block production landscape.