Clear DefinitionsProof of Authority Networks
1 min read
Pronunciation
[proof of aw-thor-i-tee net-wurks]
Analogy
Like a board of trusted notaries stamping documents rather than an open public election.
Definition
Blockchains where a limited set of approved validator nodes—identified by known identities—secure the network and produce blocks, trading decentralization for high throughput and finality.
Key Points Intro
PoA networks rely on vetted authorities to validate transactions efficiently.
Key Points
Known validators: Identities managed via permissioning contract.
High performance: Fast block times and low latency.
Low decentralization: Trust placed in authority set.
Use cases: Consortium chains, private networks.
Example
A supply‑chain consortium runs a PoA network with five company‑operated validators for transparent tracking.
Technical Deep Dive
AuthorityRound (AuRa) consensus: validators sign block headers. Validator set governed by on‑chain contract with `addAuthority()` and `removeAuthority()` functions.
Security Warning
Compromise of authorities can halt or censor chain; enforce legal SLAs.
Caveat
Not suitable for censorship-resistant public applications.
Proof of Authority Networks - Related Articles
No related articles for this term.