Definition ∞ A market design flaw is an inherent defect in the structure or rules of a financial market that leads to inefficient or unfair outcomes. In the context of digital asset markets, such flaws can stem from protocol vulnerabilities, inadequate incentive structures, or insufficient mechanisms for price discovery and liquidity provision. These imperfections can result in issues like front-running, excessive volatility, or susceptibility to manipulation, undermining market integrity. Identifying and rectifying these flaws is essential for market health.
Context ∞ Discussions surrounding market design flaws frequently appear in crypto news, especially after incidents involving significant market instability or protocol exploits. Developers and researchers continually analyze existing decentralized exchanges and lending protocols to identify and address these structural weaknesses, aiming to build more robust and equitable digital asset markets.