GlossaryAdvanced
Epoch
A fixed period of time or set number of blocks used to organize validator duties in proof of stake.
An epoch is a defined period, made up of a fixed number of blocks or slots, used by many proof-of-stake networks to organize validator responsibilities, rewards, and network-level checkpoints.
Key network events, such as reward distribution or validator set updates, are often processed at epoch boundaries rather than continuously — see Kaavon's "Validator Set" glossary definition for the group whose membership can change at these boundaries.
Examples
- A proof-of-stake network might organize its validator schedule into epochs of a fixed number of slots.
- Staking rewards are commonly calculated and distributed on an epoch-by-epoch basis.