What is the consensus mechanism of ZetaChain?

ZetaChain operates on the innovative Comet BFT consensus protocol, a sophisticated mechanism designed for resilience and efficiency. This partially synchronous Byzantine Fault Tolerant (BFT) algorithm ensures the network's security and reliability, even in the face of malicious actors.

At the heart of Comet BFT lies its unique voting system, where validator nodes play a pivotal role. These nodes possess the authority to cast votes on proposed blocks, with their influence directly tied to the amount of ZETA coins they have staked or delegated.

The staking mechanism incentivizes honest behavior among validators, as their voting power is proportional to their stake. This not only reinforces the network's security but also fosters a healthy ecosystem where participants are rewarded for their contributions.

Each validator node is uniquely identified within the ZetaChain network by its consensus public key. This key serves as the validator's digital identity, allowing the network to authenticate and verify its actions, ensuring transparency and accountability.

The integration of the consensus public key adds an extra layer of security to the system, making it difficult for malicious actors to impersonate legitimate validators. This feature is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the blockchain and protecting users' assets.