Definition ∞ Stake-weighted density measures how much of a blockchain’s total staked cryptocurrency is held and controlled by different participants. This metric quantifies the distribution of staked capital across validators or participants within a proof-of-stake blockchain network, giving greater significance to larger stake holdings. It assesses the concentration of economic power and influence, providing insight into the decentralization and potential for collusion among network operators. A higher stake-weighted density among a few entities can indicate centralization risks.
Context ∞ Stake-weighted density is a critical parameter for evaluating the security and decentralization of proof-of-stake blockchain protocols. News reports and analyses often cite this metric when discussing potential vulnerabilities or the health of a network’s consensus mechanism. The ongoing challenge involves designing incentive structures that encourage a broad and diverse distribution of staked assets to maintain robust decentralization.
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