Definition ∞ Egalitarian consensus refers to a distributed agreement mechanism where all network participants possess an equal opportunity to contribute to the validation process. This approach minimizes the influence of wealth or computing power in determining network outcomes. It aims to prevent centralization and promote broad participation. Such systems prioritize fairness in decision-making.
Context ∞ Egalitarian consensus mechanisms are a subject of considerable interest in blockchain research, seeking alternatives to proof-of-work or proof-of-stake models that can concentrate power. Discussions often explore methods like proof-of-elapsed-time or various randomized leader selection schemes. Future developments focus on designing protocols that truly distribute validation rights without sacrificing security or scalability.