On-Chain Coercion

Action

On-chain coercion represents a deliberate manipulation of blockchain state through economic incentives or disincentives, impacting user behavior within decentralized applications. This typically manifests as strategically designed smart contracts that penalize or reward specific actions, steering participants toward predetermined outcomes. The efficacy of this approach relies on the rational self-interest of network actors, where the cost of resisting the coercion exceeds the benefit. Consequently, it introduces a form of control within ostensibly decentralized systems, potentially compromising the principles of censorship resistance.