51% attack
We have seen that the PoW consensus mechanism guarantees the achievement of consensus, even in the presence of non-functioning or dishonest nodes. However, if the dishonest node is able to control 51% of the computational capacity of the entire network, it is able to manipulate the transaction ledger at will (creating new blocks or modifying those that have already been inserted into the blockchain) without the need to obtain the consent of the network regarding the changes that have been made.
In this way, the dishonest node could prevent other nodes from adding blocks, thereby delaying the confirmation of transactions, or appropriating previously confirmed transactions.
Since the costs that are necessary to control 51% of the ...
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