# How Are Transactions on the Blockchain Verified?

Have you ever wondered how cryptocurrency transactions on the blockchain are ensured to be free of cheating? Looking at it from another perspective, the blockchain is like a publicly accessible ledger for the entire network. Anyone can view it, but because of this transparency, the system needs a rigorous verification mechanism to ensure that every transaction is genuine and valid.

So, how is this achieved specifically? Simply put, it’s through several consensus mechanisms—such as Proof of Work (PoW), Proof of Stake (PoS), and other schemes.

**Proof of Work (PoW)** works on a straightforward logic: want to participate in verification? Then you need to solve a mathematical puzzle. Only those who solve it correctly have the right to package new transaction blocks and receive rewards. This makes cheating prohibitively costly.

**Proof of Stake (PoS)** is another approach: the more coins you hold, the greater your say. Want to verify transactions? First, stake your assets as collateral. If you verify correctly, you earn rewards; but if you cheat, your staked coins will be forfeited. This uses economic incentives and penalties to encourage honest behavior from everyone.

In summary, regardless of the method, the core idea is the same—making honest verification more profitable than cheating, thereby establishing the security of the entire network.