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Proof of work acts as a ticket system that is turned off by default, but adapts to network stress by creating a priority queue. Before accessing an onion service, a small puzzle must be solved, proving that some "work" has been done by the client.[1]

It uses a clever difficulty escalation as stress increases. Theoretically it'll deter attacks well enough that clients don't have to do much PoW.

  1. https://blog.torproject.org/introducing-proof-of-work-defense-for-onion-services/