“A failure to understand proof of work is a failure to understand Bitcoin.” – Jack Mallers, BTC Prague

Proof of Work is the mechanism that makes Bitcoin trustworthy.

Here’s how it works in simple terms:

🔹 Thousands of computers worldwide race to solve a mathematical puzzle.

🔹 The winner adds the next “block” of transactions to Bitcoin’s ledger.

🔹 This process requires energy, which makes cheating extremely costly.

🔹 The system automatically adjusts so blocks are added about every 10 minutes.

The result?

A network that no one can control, no government can censor, and no single company can shut down.

That’s why Proof of Work isn’t just a feature of Bitcoin — it’s the very reason Bitcoin works.