What is Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS)?

Much like the widespread Proof-of-Stake (PoS) system, Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) incentivizes users to confirm network data and ensure system security by staking collateral. However, the distinctive characteristic of DPoS is its voting and delegation structure. In contrast to PoS, where nodes are usually awarded the ability to process new blocks based solely on the total amount each node stakes, the DPoS system allows users to delegate their own stake to a node of their choosing — known as a delegate — and vote for the nodes to earn block validation access. Elected validators receive block rewards after verifying the transactions in a block, and those rewards are then shared with users who delegated them as validators.