# The Evolution and Optimization Strategies of a PBFT Consensus Algorithm for Consortium Blockchains
## 3 An Introduction to Mainstream Consensus Algorithms
### The Mainstream Consensus Algorithms of Public Blockchains
#### 3.1.2 PoS
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Author** & **Year** & **Improvement Method** & **Core Mechanism** & **Limitations** & **Reward/Penalty Mechanism** \\ \hline [PERSON] & 2021 & BDRP Secure & Combines PoW to validate node behavior in opportunistic networks, ensuring a decentralized routing security. & Limited by the dynamic nature of opportunistic networks. & May provide higher transaction priority for nodes that comply with the routing protocol. \\ \hline [PERSON] [26] & 2021 & Fed-DDM Joint & Scalable PoW to synchronize multiple private sub-ledgers, supporting a layered & Increasing computational overhead, potentially affecting the overall efficiency. & May provide additional rewards to nodes that successfully synchronize ledgers. \\ \hline [PERSON] [27] & 2022 & Enhanced PoW (E-PoW) & Optimizes PoW parameters to meet the demands of medical IoT systems. & Limiting applicability, and medical data privacy remains a challenge. & No clear reward or penalty mechanism. \\ \hline [PERSON] [28] & 2023 & PoW Energy Trading Verification & Directly uses PoW to verify peer-to-peer energy transactions, ensuring transaction integrity. & May conflict with the low-carbon goals of energy trading systems. & Provides additional PoW rewards to energy contributors. \\ \hline [PERSON] [29] & 2023 & Hedera Consensus Algorithm & Combines PoW with edge computing to optimize multi-access edge computing (MEC) network resource allocation. & Relies on the computing power of MEC devices, resource contributions. \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 3: _Cont._and enhancing network decentralization. For instance, emerging solutions like EigenLayer and Lido have introduced novel staking architectures to lower entry barriers for validators, increase capital liquidity, and reduce centralization risks [38]. These developments aim to balance the security guarantees inherent in PoS ecosystems with the need for inclusive participation. Despite progress, gaps remain in understanding validator behavior dynamics, particularly in incentive coordination and governance frameworks [38]. Nevertheless, collective advancements highlight the potential of PoS to address scalability, energy efficiency, and security challenges that are limitations of traditional PoW systems. Ethereum's successful transition exemplifies the feasibility of large-scale PoS adoption, marking a key milestone in the evolution of blockchain toward sustainable and resilient consensus models [36]. Future research directions emphasize the integration of hybrid consensus mechanisms, formal verification tools, and cross-chain interoperability to further refine the applicability of PoS in heterogeneous blockchain environments. As shown in Table 4, the existing improvements to the PoS algorithm can be systematically categorized into three main directions: the optimization of the incentive mechanism, the enhancement of security mechanisms, and structural efficiency improvements. In the realm of incentive mechanisms, dynamic reward distribution models (such as evolutionary game theory) incentivize honest behavior by adjusting staking reward ratios, while re-staking and liquidity token schemes (such as Eigen Layer) reduce participation barriers and promote network decentralization. The security enhancement direction focuses on attack defense and behavioral modeling, including defense strategies against long-range attacks and validator collusion, as well as a game-theoretic equilibrium analysis of ransom attacks, systematically improving the protocol's resistance to malicious activity. Structural optimization focuses primarily on improving efficiency, including lightweight designs that reduce communication overhead (e.g., threshold signatures vs. dynamic committees) and standardized guidance for classification frameworks that help optimize algorithm selection. In addition, formal verification tools leverage mathematical abstractions to ensure the reliability of key aspects (e.g., verifier exit).