Weak Subjectivity
A proof-of-stake property where new or long-offline nodes need a recent trusted checkpoint to sync safely.
Weak subjectivity means a proof-of-stake node cannot always determine the correct chain from genesis using only objective work like proof of work. It may need a recent finalized checkpoint from a source the user considers trustworthy.
The issue arises because old validator keys may no longer have economic weight, enabling long-range attack histories if a node has been offline too long. Finality and checkpoint distribution help bound this risk.
Related terms
3 linkedExplore connected entries beyond the alphabetical index.
Proof of Stake
→A consensus method where validators use staked cryptocurrency to create blocks and secure the network.
Finality
→Finality is the point at which a transaction is considered irreversible or economically impractical to revert.
Validator
→A consensus participant that proposes, verifies, or attests to blocks, often after bonding stake in a proof-of-stake network.
All terms and definitions may update as the Cryptionary improves.
