Bonded mining involves users locking up a certain amount of cryptocurrency as collateral to participate in the mining process. This mechanism is often associated with proof-of-stake and delegated proof-of-stake systems.In bonded mining, participants stake their tokens, which helps secure the network and validate transactions. By doing so, they gain the opportunity to earn rewards. The amount of cryptocurrency staked usually influences the probability of being selected to create new blocks or verify transactions.Should a participant act dishonestly or attempt to harm the network, their staked tokens can be partially or fully forfeited. This creates a strong incentive for honest behavior, as the staker risks their own assets.Bonded mining helps improve network security and reduces energy consumption compared to traditional mining methods, which often rely on intensive computational power. It promotes a more eco-friendly approach while maintaining the integrity of the blockchain.