Verifiable Autonomy

Definition ∞ Verifiable autonomy describes the characteristic of a decentralized system or agent to operate independently according to its programmed rules, with its actions being publicly auditable and provable on a blockchain. This property ensures that the system’s operations are transparent, predictable, and free from unauthorized external interference. It underpins the trustworthiness of smart contracts and decentralized applications.
Context ∞ News frequently highlights verifiable autonomy as a core tenet of decentralized finance and web3 applications, where trust is derived from code rather than intermediaries. This concept is critical for ensuring the integrity of self-executing agreements and decentralized governance mechanisms. The ongoing discussion focuses on developing robust auditing tools and formal verification methods to ensure such autonomy is truly achievable and secure.