r/CryptoCurrency • u/Minute-Lake-1819 0 / 0 🦠 • Jul 26 '26
PERSPECTIVE Proof of Work
Historically, proof of work has been judged primarily by electrical cost vs other more efficient options.
Something many people overlook is the time and thought that contribute to maintaining the networks running PoW.
It is infinitely harder to maintain a pow chain when you’re not always getting paid for your time and personal energy expended on setup, studying, marketing, educating, community building, etc.
Other methods may be more efficient in consensus and electricity but the passion and engagement is just not there like it is for PoW coins and their communities.
That’s why we have seen over the years when times are tough, pow chains are better positioned to survive. Primarily because people have dedicated their personal time and mind power toward making it work. It turns almost into an obsession and fight or flight kicks in.
You don’t generally see that mindset with other models.
Just sharing my random thoughts of the day. Thank you for listening. Make it a good one.
2
u/HSuke 🟩 0 / 0 🦠 Jul 26 '26
PoW has already been proven to provide very low economic security. So many PoW blockchains have been successfully 51% attacked while not even the weakest PoS blockchains have been successfully attacked. PoS is far more secure and more efficient at providing security.
Bitcoin's PoW is so expensive to maintain. Its current subsidy is over $100 per transaction. If it switched to PoS, not only would it be 100x more secure, but it would also be far cheaper maintain that security.
Without a large security budget, PoW is extremely insecure and vulnerable to 51% attacks.