Bitcoin's combination of proof of work, difficulty, economic incentives and the most-work valid chain for probabilistic agreement.
Nakamoto consensus is best understood as part of a system rather than as an isolated definition. Its related coordinates show the mechanisms, incentives and historical records that give the term practical meaning.
Nakamoto consensus sits between protocol rules, economic incentives and software operated by independent participants. In Bitcoin, no component is authoritative by itself: miners propose history, fully validating nodes enforce validity, and users decide which rules and software they accept.
Understanding Nakamoto consensus helps distinguish a verifiable Bitcoin mechanism or historical record from slogans, products and market narratives.
For the clearest picture, read this entry together with Proof of Work, Difficulty Adjustment, Probabilistic settlement finality. The reverse links also lead from Byzantine Generals Problem, Sybil attack.
Linked to related atlas coordinates
Grounded in a source record
Explains function and trade-offs
Part of the open Bitcoin knowledge graph