Network Churn

Definition ∞ This term refers to the rate at which participants join and leave a network, particularly in the context of blockchain or distributed systems. High churn can indicate network instability, rapid changes in participation, or significant economic shifts affecting node operators. It is a key metric for assessing network health and security.
Context ∞ Network Churn is a frequently discussed metric in the analysis of blockchain network health and security. News coverage often highlights periods of high churn as potential indicators of underlying network issues, economic pressures on validators, or shifts in staking participation. Discussions frequently revolve around the implications of churn for network consensus stability and the potential for attacks that exploit rapid changes in network composition.