Overview
Slashing is a penalty mechanism in proof-of-stake consensus that punishes validators for misbehavior, such as going offline or attempting to attack the network. A portion of the validator's staked funds is burned or forfeited, making dishonesty expensive. Slashing aligns validator incentives with the health of the chain and is a core component of PoS security.
How It Works
Validators sign attestations and blocks according to protocol rules. If a validator signs conflicting blocks for the same slot, or is offline for a prolonged period, the protocol automatically detects the violation and applies a slashing penalty. The amount lost can scale with the severity of the offense, and in some designs the entire stake can be forfeited. Delegators who staked through the validator also suffer losses.
Why It Matters
Slashing is what makes proof-of-stake economically secure: without it, validators could harm the network at no cost. For users, slashing risk is central to choosing between staking providers, and liquid staking derivatives and restaking multiply exposure because the same capital can be slashed across multiple services. Understanding slashing terms is essential for anyone staking or using restaking protocols.
Related Concepts
Slashing enforces the rules of Proof of Stake and directly affects Validators and Delegated Staking. It is also the key risk factor in Restaking, where staked capital backs multiple Actively Validated Services.