Stake-weighted voting is a mechanism used in some blockchain systems where the influence of a vote is proportional to the amount of cryptocurrency a participant holds or “stakes.” Essentially, those who own more tokens have a greater say in decisions regarding the network, such as protocol upgrades or governance proposals.This approach aligns the interests of network participants with the overall health of the ecosystem, as stakeholders are likely to make choices that benefit the value of their investment. It differs from one-person-one-vote systems, where each individual’s vote carries equal weight, regardless of their stake in the system.Critics of stake-weighted voting argue that it can lead to centralization, where wealthier participants have significant power over governance. This raises concerns about fairness and inclusivity, as smaller holders may feel marginalized. Balancing stakeholder influence while ensuring equitable representation is a challenge that many blockchain projects continue to navigate.