A transaction will swiftly spread across the network. If there are two similar transactions almost simultaneously reported, the one initiated earlier gains a substantial advantage by reaching a larger number of nodes first. Nodes will confirm the initial transaction they encounter and reject any subsequent ones, meaning the first transaction garners more support for integration into the forthcoming proof-of-work. Essentially, each node endorses the transaction it perceives first by incorporating it into its proof-of-work process. If both transactions arrive at the exact same moment leading to a split decision, it becomes a matter of chance as to which one is incorporated into a proof-of-work first, thereby determining its legitimacy.