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Governance attack
A governance attack is when someone gains enough voting power in a protocol's token vote to pass a proposal that benefits them, such as moving the treasury to their own address or changing the rules. Voting power can be bought, borrowed or gathered from holders who do not vote.
What it means for you. If you hold a governance token or keep funds in a protocol run by token votes, a single passed proposal can change where your deposit goes. You can check whether the protocol has a timelock that delays approved changes, which gives holders time to spot a hostile proposal and withdraw, and you can read pending proposals before they execute.
Source: ethereum.org: Smart contract security (governance attacks) · checked 4 October 2026
51% attack
A 51% attack is when one group controls most of a blockchain's mining power or staked coins. With that majority it can reorder or reverse recent transactions, spend the same coins twice, and refuse to include other people's transactions. It cannot create coins from nothing or take coins from other people's wallets.
What it means for you. On a smaller chain with little mining power or stake, a payment that looks confirmed can be reversed if an attacker gains a majority. This is why exchanges often wait for more confirmations before crediting deposits on such chains. Your coins cannot be moved without your keys even in an attack.
Sources: ethereum.org: Glossary, 51% attack, ethereum.org: Ethereum proof-of-stake attack and defense, Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System (Nakamoto), section 11 · checked 4 October 2026