Of all the parameters guiding Cardano, few spark as much debate as optimal_pool_count — better known as k. Cardano has over 40 parameters shaping its security, performance, and governance. So why does k get so much attention?

What is optimal_pool_count (k)?

The optimal_pool_count (k) is a protocol parameter that defines the ideal minimum number of stake pools to efficiently run the Cardano network. It enforces this ideal minimum by influencing how delegation incentives are structured.

In a proof-of-work (PoW) network like Bitcoin, miners compete with computational power to earn a chance to mint a block and earn a bitcoin. Cardano uses a different mechanism, called proof-of-stake (PoS). Here, security and transaction validation rely on a distributed network of stake…