Revelation Principle

Definition ∞ The Revelation Principle is an economic concept stating that if a mechanism designer can achieve a certain outcome using any mechanism, then they can also achieve that same outcome using a “truthful” mechanism. In a truthful mechanism, participants are incentivized to honestly report their private information. This principle is applied in designing robust protocols where participants’ true preferences are elicited. It is a theoretical tool for mechanism design analysis.
Context ∞ While originating in traditional economics, the Revelation Principle finds conceptual application in the design of decentralized protocols and incentive structures within blockchain. Discussions often relate to designing consensus mechanisms or decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) where participants are motivated to act in the network’s best interest. Future research may explore how this principle can guide the creation of more resilient and fair decentralized systems, particularly concerning information asymmetry and coordination challenges.