The PoW algorithm, also used by Bitcoin, is the best known method of achieving a consensus on a blockchain. To achieve a consensus in PoW, unlike PBFT, the submission of individual conclusions is not required from all the nodes in the network. Instead, PoW uses a hash function to create conditions that allow a single/individual participant to announce their conclusions about the submitted information, which are then verified by all the other system participants. The hash function has a parameter that ensures false information will fail to compute in an acceptable way to prevent any false conclusions.

Participants in the Bitcoin system, who publicly verify information on behalf of the network, are rewarded with a newly created Bitcoin. This process of searching for valid hashes for the verification of information is called mining. This system of rewarding participation in the network allows broad participation, which results in building a more robust network and a safer blockchain. This broad participation ensures greater network stability with minimal requirements for each participant and allows participants to remain anonymous.