Passive Block Producer

Definition ∞ A passive block producer is an entity participating in a blockchain’s consensus mechanism that performs its assigned duties without actively seeking additional transactional revenue beyond standard block rewards. This producer simply validates and adds blocks as required by the protocol rules, without engaging in sophisticated strategies like transaction reordering for extra profit.
Context ∞ The behavior of passive block producers is relevant in discussions about miner or validator incentives and network neutrality in proof-of-stake or delegated proof-of-stake systems. News articles may analyze the prevalence of passive versus active block producers and its impact on transaction fee markets and censorship resistance. The balance between incentivizing participation and maintaining network integrity is a constant consideration.