What Is Slashing in Crypto?

A slashing is a foundational security mechanism in proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchains. It outlines how slashing acts as both deterrent and punishment for validators who behave dishonestly or negligently, helping to maintain the trustless integrity of networks like Ethereum, Cosmos, and Polkadot. When validators violate protocol rules—through misconduct like double-signing or extended downtime—they risk losing a portion of their staked assets, creating tangible consequences for harming the network.

At its core, slashing targets validators who are directly responsible for securing the blockchain and validating transactions. For instance, if a validator signs conflicting blocks or goes offline too frequently, it disrupts consensus and puts the network at risk. The protocol enforces slashing penalties by deducting a portion of the validator’s staked funds and, in some cases, ejecting them entirely. This system incentivizes reliability and honesty without needing full trust in any single participant.