Distributed Liability

Definition ∞ Distributed liability describes a model where responsibility for outcomes or risks is shared across multiple participants within a decentralized network. Instead of a single central entity bearing all accountability, the collective network assumes obligations. This dispersion of risk is a core tenet of many blockchain and decentralized finance protocols. It aims to prevent single points of failure and promote collective oversight.
Context ∞ Discussions surrounding distributed liability frequently appear in news concerning decentralized autonomous organizations and DeFi protocols. The legal and regulatory implications of this shared responsibility remain a complex and evolving area. Incidents involving smart contract exploits often bring the practical challenges of assigning and managing distributed liability to the forefront.