Snow Consensus

Definition ∞ Snow Consensus is a family of lightweight, randomized consensus protocols designed for high throughput and rapid finality in distributed systems. Unlike traditional Nakamoto or classical consensus, it relies on repeated random sampling of network participants to quickly determine transaction validity. This approach aims for efficiency without sacrificing decentralization.
Context ∞ Snow Consensus, particularly as implemented in the Avalanche platform, is a significant topic in discussions about blockchain scalability and performance, often appearing in news concerning new layer-one solutions. Its probabilistic nature allows for faster transaction confirmation times compared to some earlier blockchain architectures. This innovative approach seeks to address the scalability trilemma by optimizing for both speed and decentralization.