Dominant Strategy Equilibrium

Definition ∞ A dominant strategy equilibrium occurs in game theory when each player’s chosen strategy is optimal regardless of the actions taken by other players. This means a player has a single best action irrespective of what others do. Such an equilibrium provides strong stability and predictability in strategic interactions. It simplifies decision-making as players do not need to forecast opponents’ moves.
Context ∞ In the context of blockchain protocol design, achieving a dominant strategy equilibrium is a highly sought-after property for incentive mechanisms. For example, a well-designed transaction fee market might aim for a dominant strategy for users to bid their true valuation for transaction inclusion. This reduces the complexity of user behavior and enhances the predictability and fairness of the system. Research frequently explores how to design protocols where honest behavior is a dominant strategy.