Consensus & Mining
Intermediate
What is
Finality?
The guarantee that a transaction cannot be reversed or altered once confirmed.
Finality is when a transaction becomes irreversible. In PoW chains like Ergo, finality is probabilistic - each confirmation makes reversal exponentially harder. After enough confirmations, reversal is practically impossible. This differs from some PoS chains that claim instant finality but may have other tradeoffs.
Key Points
- PoW finality is probabilistic
- Each confirmation increases security
- Practically final after 10+ blocks
- Different from instant finality claims
- Trade-off: slower but more secure
- No trusted finality gadget needed
Related Infographics
Related Articles
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about Finality
Common questions about this topic
What can I do with Ergo?
Ergo supports a broad ecosystem: use SigmaUSD, explore historical and current DeFi references, mix transactions with ErgoMixer where lawful, collect NFTs, mine with GPUs, bridge to other chains via Rosen, and build dApps with ErgoScript. Always verify current project status before sending funds to a third-party app.
Explainer
Getting Started
How do NFTs work on Ergo?
Ergo NFTs are native tokens with quantity of 1, making each unique. Unlike Ethereum where NFTs need smart contracts, Ergo NFTs are first-class protocol citizens. Mint for minimal fees (~0.001 ERG), trade on SkyHarbor marketplace, and enjoy full eUTXO security. NFTs can include rich metadata and royalties.
Explainer
Technology
How to get started with Ergo?
Start by getting a wallet (Nautilus for browser, Terminus for mobile). Back up your seed phrase securely offline. Get some ERG from a current exchange or verified venue, then make a small test transaction. After that, explore NFTs, mining, DeFi references, or the developer stack if you're a builder.
How-to
Getting Started
How do miners earn money on Ergo?
Ergo miners earn from three sources: block rewards (newly minted ERG), transaction fees, and storage rent. Block rewards decrease over time according to the emission schedule, but storage rent ensures long-term income even after all ERG is mined. Most miners use pools for consistent payouts.
How-to
Mining