Definition ∞ Stake concentration refers to the situation where a significant portion of a proof-of-stake blockchain’s total staked tokens is controlled by a small number of entities. This condition can arise when a few large validators or staking pools accumulate a dominant share of the network’s delegated or directly staked assets. High stake concentration raises concerns about the decentralization and security of the network, as it increases the potential for collusion or single points of failure. It can impact the censorship resistance and overall integrity of the blockchain’s consensus mechanism.
Context ∞ Discussions around stake concentration are critical for evaluating the true decentralization of proof-of-stake networks and are often linked to the Nakamoto Coefficient. A key debate involves designing incentive mechanisms and delegation models that mitigate this concentration without hindering network security or participation. Future protocol upgrades and community governance initiatives aim to address this challenge by promoting a more distributed allocation of staked capital.
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