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Optimal Consensus Latency

Definition

Optimal Consensus Latency represents the ideal minimum time delay required for a distributed network to reach definitive agreement on the state of its ledger, balancing speed with security and decentralization. It is a theoretical and practical target for blockchain engineers, aiming to achieve the fastest possible transaction finality without compromising the network’s integrity or resistance to attacks. This metric is crucial for real-world applications that demand high responsiveness and immediate settlement. Achieving optimal latency often involves sophisticated protocol design.