Proof-of-Work as a Stigmergic Consensus Algorithm

Önder Gürcan (Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, List)

Abstract

In this paper, we make a theoretical analysis from a coordination perspective and conclude that the Proof-of-Work (PoW) algorithm is a stigmergic consensus algorithm where the trace left by an action in the blockchain through indirect coordination of agents stimulates subsequent actions and eventually creates a single chain of blocks.