Definition ∞ Leader failure in a distributed system, such as a blockchain network, occurs when the designated node responsible for coordinating or proposing new blocks becomes unresponsive or malicious. This event disrupts the normal operation of the consensus mechanism, potentially halting transaction processing or causing network instability. Protocols must incorporate mechanisms to detect and recover from such failures.
Context ∞ Discussions about leader failure are central to the design and resilience of various blockchain consensus algorithms, particularly those relying on a designated leader for block production. News often covers how different protocols address this challenge, through mechanisms like leader rotation, backup leaders, or Byzantine fault tolerance. The ability to quickly recover from leader failure is crucial for maintaining network liveness and security.
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