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Self-Interested Agents

Definition

Self-interested agents are participants within a system, such as a blockchain network, who act primarily to maximize their own benefits or utility. These agents, whether individuals, organizations, or automated programs, make decisions based on their personal incentives, which may or may not align with the collective good of the system. In decentralized networks, protocol design often accounts for these motivations, aiming to align individual self-interest with network security and stability. Their actions can drive competition and innovation.