Let’s simplify this: consensus is how thousands of computers scattered across the world agree on which transactions are valid. Proof-of-Work (PoW) and Proof-of-Stake (PoS) are the most common systems. Whereas PoW depends on miners using computational power to solve puzzles, PoS relies on validators staking tokens to confirm transactions.

It’s not rocket science — both aim to make cheating expensive and honesty rewarding. In PoW, it takes massive energy to fake a transaction, while in PoS, you’d lose your staked tokens for misbehaving. This ensures that the network remains trustworthy without a central authority.

Each method has its trade-offs: PoW is more battle-tested but energy-intensive, while PoS is faster and greener but still evolving in security models. Let me walk you through the idea — the stronger and more decentralized a network’s consensus is, the harder it becomes for anyone to manipulate it.

So, consensus isn’t just a technical term; it’s the backbone of blockchain credibility. Without it, there’s no trust, no decentralization, and no blockchain as we know it.