# Proof of Work

*Crypto & Digital Assets — Finicade finance glossary*

Proof of work secures a blockchain by making block production expensive in real electricity, so rewriting history would cost more than any attack could gain. It is deliberately wasteful — the waste is the security budget. Its energy consumption is the sector's most durable criticism, and the main reason Ethereum and nearly every newer chain chose a different mechanism.

**Also known as:** PoW, proof-of-work consensus

**Related terms:** [Mining](https://finicade.com/glossary/mining), [Proof of Stake](https://finicade.com/glossary/proof-of-stake), [Consensus Mechanism](https://finicade.com/glossary/consensus-mechanism), [Bitcoin](https://finicade.com/glossary/bitcoin), [51% Attack](https://finicade.com/glossary/51-percent-attack)

Source: https://finicade.com/glossary/proof-of-work