What is Proof-of-History (PoH)?

What Is Proof-of-History (PoH)?

Proof-of-History (PoH) is a unique cryptographic mechanism designed to create a verifiable record of time on the blockchain. It is not a consensus mechanism itself, but a crucial component that allows the network to agree on the exact sequence and timing of events, drastically reducing the communication overhead required for reaching consensus.

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🕒 8:44 AM

📅 Nov 04, 2025

✍️ By Nathanael707

Defining the PoH Clock Mechanism

Proof-of-History uses a cryptographic function (a Verifiable Delay Function or VDF) to prove that a certain amount of time has elapsed between two events. It acts as a decentralized, trustless clock for the network.

Verifiable Delay Function (VDF): A function that takes a predictable amount of time to compute, creating a sequential chain of hashes that serve as a timestamp.
No Central Clock: Replaces the need for validators to rely on their own, potentially faulty, local clocks.
Event Ordering: Provides an indisputable, chronological record of events before they are finalized into a block.

Role in Consensus Speed

By providing a global, trusted time record, PoH significantly improves the speed of the accompanying Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus.

Reduced Communication: Validators do not need to spend time communicating to agree on the time/order of transactions, only on the validity of the PoH-stamped sequence.
High Throughput: Enables incredibly fast transaction processing and finality by making the consensus process more efficient.