Transaction Censorship Risk

Definition ∞ Transaction censorship risk describes the potential for a powerful entity or a colluding group of block producers to intentionally exclude or delay specific transactions from being included in a blockchain’s blocks. This can undermine the fundamental principle of open and permissionless access to the network. Such censorship can impact user freedom, market fairness, and the overall utility of the decentralized system. Mitigating this risk is essential for preserving the neutrality of a blockchain.
Context ∞ Transaction censorship risk is a growing concern, particularly with the rise of maximal extractable value and the increasing centralization of block production in some networks. Debates often focus on protocol designs that separate block proposer and builder roles, as well as on mechanisms that allow users to bypass censoring entities. Research into credible neutrality and decentralized sequencing solutions aims to reduce the ability of any single party to censor transactions effectively.