Risk Neutral Assumption

Definition ∞ The risk neutral assumption is a theoretical concept in financial economics where investors are presumed to be indifferent to risk when making decisions, valuing assets solely based on their expected future payoffs. This assumption simplifies financial modeling by removing the need to account for individual risk preferences. While not reflective of real-world investor behavior, it serves as a powerful analytical tool for pricing derivatives and evaluating expected outcomes in certain market conditions. It provides a standardized framework for valuation.
Context ∞ In the analysis of virtual currency derivatives and decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, the risk neutral assumption is sometimes employed in quantitative models for pricing and risk assessment. News articles or research papers might reference this concept when discussing theoretical valuations of complex digital asset instruments. Understanding its limitations is crucial for interpreting market analyses and models that utilize this simplifying premise.