On bitcoin the investment you have to make when doing "proo…

On bitcoin the investment you have to make when doing "proof fo work" is similar to a pawn or security.
It is all lost, when you cheat.
Which incentivizes everyone who agrees to "proof of work" not to cheat.
Because it is not about "if you get catched" but mainly about the "when".
Not much to gain but a lot to lose.
"Proof of work" serves mainly as a monetary investment and therefore as a security/pawn.