Rational Independence Assumption

Definition ∞ The rational independence assumption posits that participants in a decentralized network make decisions independently, solely based on their own economic self-interest, without colluding or coordinating with other actors. This assumption is foundational to many game-theoretic models used in blockchain security and consensus mechanism design. It helps in predicting network behavior and designing incentive structures that encourage honest participation. Violations of this assumption, such as cartel formation, can compromise system security.
Context ∞ News and research often scrutinize the rational independence assumption, particularly when discussing potential centralization risks or collusion within mining pools or staking validators. The validity of this assumption is a key factor in assessing the long-term decentralization and security of various blockchain networks. Debates persist on how to design protocols that are resilient even if some degree of coordinated behavior occurs.