External Keeper Incentive

Incentive

The External Keeper Incentive (EKI) represents a mechanism designed to align the interests of custodians holding cryptocurrency assets or financial derivatives on behalf of others with the long-term health and security of the underlying protocols or platforms. It moves beyond traditional custody fee structures by incorporating performance-based rewards or penalties tied to factors like uptime, security audits, and adherence to governance protocols. This approach aims to mitigate agency risk inherent in custodial arrangements, particularly within decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystems where custodians often manage substantial digital assets. Consequently, an EKI fosters a more proactive and responsible custodial role, encouraging continuous improvement in security and operational efficiency.