Network Security Cost

Definition ∞ Network Security Cost refers to the aggregate economic resources expended to maintain the integrity, immutability, and operational stability of a blockchain network. This cost primarily includes the expenses incurred by validators or miners for hardware, electricity, and other operational overheads required to process transactions and secure the ledger. These expenditures are compensated through block rewards and transaction fees, creating an incentive structure. It represents the financial investment necessary to prevent attacks and ensure network reliability.
Context ∞ Network Security Cost is a key metric frequently analyzed in cryptocurrency news, particularly when assessing the robustness and sustainability of proof-of-work or proof-of-stake blockchains. Debates often involve the environmental impact of these costs, especially for energy-intensive proof-of-work systems, and the efficiency of different consensus mechanisms. Understanding this cost is essential for evaluating a network’s long-term viability and its resistance to malicious actors.