Bargaining Theory

Definition

Bargaining Theory describes the strategic process where two or more parties negotiate to reach a mutually acceptable agreement concerning the allocation of assets or financial outcomes. Within decentralized finance and crypto derivatives, this framework governs how participants with asymmetric information determine prices for options and bespoke smart contracts. By evaluating the threat points and potential gains of each counterparty, the theory models the equilibrium reached during private liquidity provision or over-the-counter settlement.