Byzantine Consensus

Definition ∞ Byzantine consensus refers to a fault-tolerance property of distributed systems, enabling agreement among independent nodes even when some nodes exhibit arbitrary, malicious behavior. This concept addresses the Byzantine Generals’ Problem, where reliable communication and coordination are difficult in the presence of traitors. In blockchain, it ensures that all honest participants reach a consistent view of the transaction history. Achieving Byzantine fault tolerance is critical for decentralized security.
Context ∞ In crypto news, Byzantine consensus mechanisms are frequently discussed in relation to the security and resilience of various blockchain protocols, particularly those employing Proof-of-Stake or other consensus models. The ability of a network to maintain operational integrity despite potential attacks or node failures is a key metric for its trustworthiness and stability. Debates often center on the efficiency and practical implementation of different Byzantine fault-tolerant algorithms.