Distributed Proof of Security (dPoSec)

Distributed proof of security (dPoSec) is a name used by a small number of blockchain projects for their consensus mechanism, rather than a widely recognized standard like proof of work or proof of stake. The common idea behind the label is to spread the tasks that keep a network secure, such as validating transactions, producing blocks and checking other nodes, across many independent participants, so that no single operator or small group can control the ledger. Designs described this way may combine elements of staking, node reputation and Byzantine fault tolerance. Because there is no common specification, the exact rules differ from project to project, and readers should check a project's own technical documentation rather than relying on the name. The name alone says little about how decentralized or secure a network is. Also see consensus.