Consensus Committee Size

Definition ∞ Consensus committee size refers to the number of participants selected to validate transactions and agree on the state of a blockchain network at a specific interval. This parameter is crucial for the security and performance of proof-of-stake and other committee-based consensus protocols. A larger committee generally enhances decentralization and resistance to attack, while a smaller one can improve transaction finality and throughput. Striking an appropriate balance is a design challenge.
Context ∞ Debates surrounding consensus committee size frequently appear in discussions about blockchain scalability and security tradeoffs. Protocols often adjust this parameter through dynamic mechanisms to optimize for network conditions or specific security requirements. News reports may highlight changes in committee size as a key factor affecting a network’s resilience against malicious actors or its capacity to process transactions. This metric is a significant indicator of a network’s operational health.