Consensus Fairness

Definition ∞ Consensus fairness in blockchain systems refers to the equitable distribution of opportunities for network participants to propose or validate new blocks and earn rewards. It seeks to prevent any single entity or small group from disproportionately influencing the transaction ordering or block production process. Achieving this fairness is critical for maintaining decentralization and preventing censorship or manipulation within the ledger. This property ensures all legitimate participants have a reasonable chance of contributing.
Context ∞ Discussions around consensus fairness are prominent in crypto news, especially concerning proof-of-work and proof-of-stake protocols. Concerns often arise about centralization of mining power or stake, which could compromise the fairness of block production. Developers continuously seek improvements to consensus mechanisms to better guarantee equitable participation and resist attempts at undue influence, thereby strengthening network integrity.