---
title: "What is slashing in proof of stake?"
url: "https://worldwiki.io/q/what-is-slashing-in-proof-of-stake"
type: "question"
language: "en"
intent: "informational"
entity: "Proof of Stake"
topic: "Blockchain"
published: "2026-09-18 07:10:23"
updated: "2026-09-18 16:10:23"
---

# What is slashing in proof of stake?

## Short answer

Slashing is the penalty for provable misbehaviour by a validator in a proof-of-stake network. On Ethereum, a validator is slashed for proposing two blocks in the same slot or for casting contradictory votes. The penalty works in three steps. The validator loses part of its stake straight away. It then pays an extra penalty around day 18, which is larger if many validators were slashed at the same time. Finally, it is removed from the network on day 36.

## Answer

Slashing is separate from the smaller penalties for being offline. If the chain cannot finalize for more than four epochs, an inactivity leak also drains the stake of non-voting validators [1].

## Related questions

- [PoS のチェーンでは、送った取引はいつ「もう覆らない」状態になりますか？](https://worldwiki.io/ja/q/pos-のチェ-ンでは-送った取引はいつ-もう覆らない-状態になりますか)
- [バリデーターになるには32 ETH が必要ですか？少額では参加できませんか？](https://worldwiki.io/ja/q/バリデ-タ-になるには32-eth-が必要ですか-少額では参加できませんか)
- [What is the difference between proof of stake and proof of work?](https://worldwiki.io/q/what-is-the-difference-between-proof-of-stake-and-proof-of-work)
- [ステーキング報酬に税金はかかりますか？日本での確定申告はどうなりますか？](https://worldwiki.io/ja/q/ステ-キング報酬に税金はかかりますか-日本での確定申告はどうなりますか)
- [Is proof of stake secure?](https://worldwiki.io/q/is-proof-of-stake-secure)
- [PoS への移行で Ethereum の消費電力はどれくらい減ったのですか？その数字は誰が出したものですか？](https://worldwiki.io/ja/q/pos-への移行で-ethereum-の消費電力はどれくらい減ったのですか-その数字は誰が出したものですか)

## Sources

1. [Proof-of-stake (PoS)](https://ethereum.org/developers/docs/consensus-mechanisms/pos/) — ethereum.org · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/161
2. [Proof-of-stake vs proof-of-work](https://ethereum.org/developers/docs/consensus-mechanisms/pos/pos-vs-pow/) — ethereum.org · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/208
3. [The Merge](https://ethereum.org/roadmap/merge/) — ethereum.org · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/160
4. [Ethereum proof-of-stake attack and defense](https://ethereum.org/developers/docs/consensus-mechanisms/pos/attack-and-defense/) — ethereum.org · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/209
5. [Proof-of-stake Frequently Asked Questions](https://ethereum.org/developers/docs/consensus-mechanisms/pos/faqs) — ethereum.org · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/210
6. [Prague-Electra (Pectra)](https://ethereum.org/roadmap/pectra/) — ethereum.org · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/201
7. [Ethereum Activates 'Pectra' Upgrade, Raising Max Stake to 2,048 ETH](https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2025/05/07/ethereum-activates-pectra-upgrade-raising-max-stake-to-2048-eth) — CoinDesk · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/211
8. [Ethereum's energy usage will soon decrease by ~99.95%](https://blog.ethereum.org/2021/05/18/country-power-no-more) — Ethereum Foundation Blog · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/212
9. [Ouroboros: A Provably Secure Proof-of-Stake Blockchain Protocol (Advances in Cryptology – CRYPTO 2017, pp. 357–388, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-63688-7_12)](https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/publications/ouroboros-a-provably-secure-proof-of-stake-blockchain-protocol/) — University of Edinburgh Research Explorer / Springer · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/213
10. [Peercoin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peercoin) — Wikipedia · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/214
11. [Proof-of-stake — Octez & Protocol documentation](https://octez.tezos.com/docs/active/proof_of_stake.html) — Tezos / Octez documentation · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/215
12. [Statement on Certain Protocol Staking Activities](https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/speeches-statements/statement-certain-protocol-staking-activities-052925) — U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Division of Corporation Finance · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/216