What is Slashing?

Question

What is Slashing?

Accepted Answer

Slashing is a critical, evidence-based penalty mechanism in Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchain networks that results in the forceful removal of a validator and the forfeiture of a portion of their staked cryptocurrency for malicious or negligent behavior, such as double-signing transactions or extended downtime.

Slashing

What is Slashing?

What are the primary conditions and offenses that trigger a slashing event in major Proof-of-Stake protocols like Ethereum?

How does the severity of the slashing penalty vary across different PoS blockchains, and what is the role of the correlation penalty?

What are the risks of slashing for delegated stakers, and how do professional staking services mitigate this exposure?

Why is slashing a fundamental component of Proof-of-Stake security, and how does it enforce the economic integrity of the blockchain?

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