# Understanding and Preventing 51% Attacks

By [Claudia](https://paragraph.com/@claudia-3) · 2024-07-02

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A 51% attack occurs when a single entity controls more than half of a cryptocurrency network’s mining power, allowing them to manipulate transactions and potentially double-spend coins. To prevent this, blockchain networks must maintain decentralization and distribute mining power across a large number of participants. Regular network updates and consensus algorithm improvements also help mitigate this risk.

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*Originally published on [Claudia](https://paragraph.com/@claudia-3/understanding-and-preventing-51-attacks)*