Definition ∞ Quorum-based agreement refers to a decision-making process in distributed systems where a supermajority or a predefined minimum number of participants must concur for a proposal to be accepted or an action to be executed. This mechanism ensures robustness and fault tolerance, as the system can continue to operate correctly even if a minority of participants are offline or malicious. It provides a safeguard against single points of failure.
Context ∞ In blockchain and decentralized governance, quorum-based agreement is fundamental for ensuring the security and integrity of protocol upgrades, parameter changes, and significant operational decisions. News reports often detail the voting thresholds and participant engagement required for such agreements in various decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). The proper functioning of quorum mechanisms is vital for maintaining trust and stability in self-governing digital ecosystems.