Definition ∞ The rational miner model posits that participants in a proof-of-work blockchain network, known as miners, will always act in their own economic self-interest to maximize their rewards. This model assumes miners will behave strategically to gain an advantage, potentially leading to behaviors like selfish mining or transaction manipulation. Understanding this behavior is critical for designing robust and secure consensus mechanisms. It helps predict network stability under economic incentives.
Context ∞ The discussion surrounding the rational miner model often centers on its implications for the security and decentralization of proof-of-work blockchains, particularly Bitcoin. A key debate involves designing incentive structures that align individual miner rationality with the overall network’s security objectives. Future developments are directed towards refining economic models and consensus mechanisms to ensure long-term network integrity against sophisticated rational actors.
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