What is the effect of double-spending in a blockchain context?

In a blockchain context, double-spending refers to the risk of a digital currency being spent more than once. This occurs because digital information can be reproduced relatively easily. If double-spending were to happen without effective checks, it could undermine the entire system's integrity, leading to a loss of trust among users.

When a user attempts to spend the same cryptocurrency units more than once, it can result in discrepancies in transaction records, causing confusion or unintended outcomes. A successful double-spending attack indicates that the blockchain cannot reliably validate transactions, which is essential for maintaining its security and trustworthiness. Therefore, preventing double-spending is crucial to uphold the integrity of the blockchain and ensure that once a transaction is recorded, it cannot be altered or reversed without consensus from the network. This is why the option highlighting the compromise of the blockchain's integrity is the correct response.