Staking and mining are two different ways of participating in a cryptocurrency network and earning rewards. They use different methods to achieve the same goal: to secure and validate the network transactions.
Mining is the process of using specialized hardware to solve complex mathematical problems and create new blocks of transactions. The first miner who solves the problem gets the reward of newly minted coins and transaction fees. Mining requires a lot of computing power and electricity, which makes it expensive and energy-intensive. Mining is based on a consensus algorithm called Proof-of-Work (PoW), which is used by cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Dogecoin.
Staking is the process of locking up some coins in a wallet or a smart contract for a certain period of time and becoming a validator of the network. Validators are responsible for verifying and approving transactions, and they get rewarded with newly minted coins and transaction fees. Staking requires less computing power and electricity, which makes it cheaper and more eco-friendly. Staking is based on a consensus algorithm called Proof-of-Stake (PoS), which is used by cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum 2.0, Cardano, and Solana.
The main difference between staking and mining is that mining relies on the amount of work done by the miners, while staking relies on the amount of stake held by the validators. Mining is more competitive and decentralized, while staking is more cooperative and centralized. Mining is more prone to attacks such as 51% attack, while staking is more prone to attacks such as nothing-at-stake attack.
Both staking and mining have their advantages and disadvantages, depending on the goals and preferences of the participants. Some people prefer mining because it offers more rewards and security, while others prefer staking because it offers more convenience and sustainability. Some people also do both mining and staking to diversify their income sources and hedge their risksā“.
I hope this helps you understand the difference between staking and mining.