> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.botanixlabs.com/botanix/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.botanixlabs.com/botanix/get-to-know-botanix/advanced/finality.md).

# Finality

Finality ensures that previous transactions remain unchangeable.

In present-day blockchain systems, transactions are commonly seen as immutable. However, the majority of these systems only provide a type of probabilistic transaction finality, indicating that transactions aren't immediately treated as final, but eventually gain that status. Consequently, it is recommended that one waits for up to 6 confirmations when transacting on the Bitcoin blockchain. Finality is the main reason bridge-ins for Botanix will take 6 confirmations before being processed. 

### **Why is Finality so important?** <a href="#id-672d" id="id-672d"></a>

Finality estimates the wait time for a reliable assurance that a transaction inscribed in the blockchain is unalterable, meaning it won't be disregarded. This holds paramount importance for businesses, as even an hour's delay on a blockchain network can yield noteworthy consequences.

### Finality: hard to solve in PoS but inherent to PoW&#x20;

See the sections on [Finality in a Proof-of-Work](https://app.gitbook.com/o/p0u0qYOXkJnhTfCjtGWw/s/Gi5rTBkDfRkp6vDha0bT/~/changes/9/get-to-know-botanix/architecture/finality/finality-in-a-proof-of-work-pow) and [Finality in a Proof-of-Stake](https://app.gitbook.com/o/p0u0qYOXkJnhTfCjtGWw/s/Gi5rTBkDfRkp6vDha0bT/~/changes/9/get-to-know-botanix/architecture/finality/finality-in-a-proof-of-stake-pos) on how the two different consensus mechanisms reach finality.&#x20;

From a general perspective finality is inherently part of the design in PoW while PoS has to design a new protocol (eg. Casper in Ethereum) to achieve finality. This new finality protocol comes with tradeoffs and new attack surfaces. Arguably finality is one of the biggest security problems of a Layer 1 PoS protocol. [Stacks](https://www.stacks.co/) has realized the issues of finality in PoS and therefore was the first to use a PoW protocol (Bitcoin) to achieve this finality.&#x20;

Likewise, the Botanix EVM as a PoS inherits finality from Bitcoin's PoW and does not need to implement a new protocol to achieve finality.  &#x20;


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.botanixlabs.com/botanix/get-to-know-botanix/advanced/finality.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.