Definition ∞ A weighted lottery is a selection mechanism where participants have varying probabilities of being chosen, proportional to a specific attribute they possess. In blockchain, this attribute is often the amount of staked cryptocurrency or computational power contributed. Participants with higher weights have a greater chance of being selected for a role, such as block proposer. This system aims to incentivize participation while maintaining a degree of fairness based on contribution.
Context ∞ Weighted lotteries are commonly employed in proof-of-stake consensus mechanisms to select validators or committee members for block production. News reports often analyze the fairness and security implications of different weighting schemes. The design of these lotteries is critical for preventing centralization of power and ensuring robust network operation in decentralized protocols.
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