I'm implementing a cryptocurrency to learn, I've already gotten a proof of work based chain running and functional and am now trying to move it over to proof of stake. I can only seem to find very high-level descriptions of how the planned proof of stake system for Ethereum works. A few immediate questions:
- How are the votes actually implemented? Does each validator simply sign the block with his/her public key?
- What happens if one of the stakers does not vote within the timeframe needed for minting the block? -- this seems quite probable given that the validators are chosen at random from the network... or is their some incentive not to do this (e.g losing your stake)