Economic Finality
Also known as: Probabilistic Finality, Deep Confirmation Security, Blockchain Irreversibility
A state in which reversing a blockchain transaction becomes economically irrational or infeasible due to high costs.
Economic finality refers to the assurance that a blockchain transaction, once confirmed, is unlikely to be reverted because the economic cost of reversing it would be prohibitively high. Unlike absolute finality in traditional databases or proof-of-stake BFT systems, economic finality is probabilistic and strengthens over time as more blocks are added on top. This concept is especially relevant in blockchains using Proof of Work or Nakamoto consensus, where deeper confirmations make a chain reorganization more expensive and less likely. Finality helps users trust the permanence of transactions and is critical in financial applications.