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Proof of Stake (PoS) is a consensus mechanism that is used by Ethereum 2.0 to secure and validate transactions on the blockchain. It is an alternative to the Proof of Work (PoW) mechanism used by Ethereum 1.0 and by other blockchain networks like Bitcoin.

The main difference between PoW and PoS is that in PoW, miners use computational power to solve complex mathematical problems in order to validate transactions and earn rewards. On the other hand, in PoS, validators do not have to use computational power. Instead, they need to hold a certain amount of the cryptocurrency (stake) as collateral in order to participate in the validation process.

The validation process in PoS works as follows:

- Validators are selected randomly to create and validate new blocks on the blockchain. The chance of being selected is proportional to the amount of stake a validator holds.

- Once a validator is selected, it must validate the transactions in the block and add them to the blockchain.

- If the validator acts maliciously and tries to add invalid transactions, it risks losing its stake. This incentivizes validators to act honestly and maintain the security and integrity of the network.

- Validators that act honestly are rewarded with a portion of the transaction fees for each block they validate.

The main advantage of PoS over PoW is that it requires much less energy and computational power to run. This makes it more environmentally friendly and more cost-efficient. It also reduces the centralization risk of having a small number of miners controlling the network, as there are more opportunities for individuals and smaller entities to participate as validators.

In conclusion, Proof of Stake is a more sustainable and efficient alternative to Proof of Work that is being adopted by Ethereum 2.0. It provides a secure and decentralized mechanism for validating transactions and maintaining the integrity of the network, while reducing the energy consumption and centralization risks of PoW.

For further information, read this [article](https://www.investopedia.com/ethereum-2-0-6455959)

###### This post is intended to only raise awareness. In order to make actual financial decisions please contact your financial advisor and/or tax advisor prior to making the decision.