Kaspa uses a completely different approach to block prioritization compared to traditional blockchains. Instead of treating blocks as competitors where only one “wins,” Kaspa’s BlockDAG design allows multiple blocks to be created and accepted simultaneously.
To maintain order and security, Kaspa uses a unique prioritization method based on its GHOSTDAG consensus algorithm.
Below is a clear breakdown of how Kaspa prioritizes blocks in a high-speed DAG environment.
1. All Valid Blocks Are Accepted — No Competition
In traditional blockchains:
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multiple miners may produce blocks at the same time
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only one block becomes canonical
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others become orphans and are discarded
Kaspa takes a different approach:
❗ Kaspa minimizes orphaning by accepting all valid blocks into the DAG.
This means block prioritization is about ordering, not choosing winners.
2. GHOSTDAG Selects the “Bluest” Chain of Blocks
Kaspa uses the GHOSTDAG algorithm to determine which path in the DAG has the highest quality and best connectivity.
It classifies blocks into two sets:
Blue blocks
Blocks that are well-connected and adhere closely to the DAG’s backbone.
Red blocks
Blocks that arrive more slowly, are less connected, or are slightly off the main structure.
👉 Prioritization = Blue Set > Red Set
Blue blocks represent the “cleanest” and most honest portion of the DAG and form the basis of transaction ordering.
3. Block Priority Is Determined by Blue Score
Each block receives a blue score:
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the higher the blue score, the more “trusted” the block
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this score is based on how many blue blocks are in its past
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blocks extend the path with the highest blue score
This provides a clear, deterministic method of ranking blocks without needing a single longest chain.
4. Priority Comes From Connectivity, Not Arrival Time
In Kaspa, a block’s priority is based on its connectivity within the DAG, not how quickly it reached the network.
This avoids:
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block races
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propagation delays
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miners trying to “beat” each other
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centralization pressure caused by network advantage
Kaspa’s prioritization method is therefore fairer than first-to-arrive systems.
5. Red Blocks Are Not Discarded
Even blocks with lower priority (red blocks):
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remain in the DAG
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contribute to security
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are fully visible to nodes
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do not cause reorgs
This approach eliminates waste and avoids the reorganizational chaos seen in traditional chains during high load.
6. Priority Affects Ordering, Not Validity
All blocks in Kaspa are valid; prioritization only determines:
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transaction ordering
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finality path
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blue chain structure
Kaspa does NOT:
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discard blocks
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override blocks due to timing
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perform deep reorganizations
This dramatically increases stability and reduces consensus friction.
7. Prioritization Scales With Block Rate
Because block priority is determined by the DAG’s structure—not linear height—Kaspa can:
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increase block rates without losing security
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add more throughput without causing instability
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propagate multiple parallel blocks simultaneously
This makes the prioritization model inherently scalable.
Conclusion
Kaspa’s approach to block prioritization is one of its core innovations.
Instead of selecting a single winning block like traditional blockchains, Kaspa uses a BlockDAG and the GHOSTDAG algorithm to prioritize blocks based on their connectivity and inclusion in the blue set, not arrival time.
Kaspa’s block prioritization principles:
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Accept all valid blocks
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Prioritize the “bluest” and best-connected blocks
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Use blue score for ordering
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No orphaning due to timing
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No deep reorgs
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Scaling-friendly prioritization
This creates a more efficient, fair, and resilient consensus mechanism — perfectly suited for Kaspa’s high-speed, high-throughput architecture.