Consensus Scalability

Definition ∞ Consensus scalability refers to a blockchain system’s capacity to process an increasing number of transactions or operations while maintaining agreement among network participants. It addresses the challenge of growing transaction throughput without compromising decentralization or security. Achieving higher consensus scalability is critical for mainstream adoption of blockchain technology. This property directly influences network speed and transaction costs.
Context ∞ Discussions surrounding consensus scalability are central to blockchain development, particularly for layer-1 protocols. Current efforts focus on solutions like sharding, delegated proof-of-stake, and various proof-of-work enhancements to boost transaction rates. The continuing pursuit of efficient and secure scaling methods remains a primary driver for innovation in the digital asset ecosystem.