Proof of Work (PoW)
Proof of Work (PoW) stands as a pivotal consensus mechanism in the realm of blockchain technology. It is designed to secure networks by necessitating participants, known as miners, to solve complex cryptographic puzzles. This process, termed 'mining,' is both energy and time-intensive, serving to deter spam and mitigate cyber threats, including Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, by making malicious activities computationally impractical.