What is Cryptoeconomics? (All You Need to Know)

Key Takeaways

 • Blockchain technology runs on the principles of cryptoeconomics, setting it apart from other decentralized peer-to-peer networks.

 • Cryptoeconomics employs game theory to keep the power of miners in check and ensure adherence to the rules.

 • Before Bitcoin, achieving consensus on a peer-to-peer network was impossible as they were constantly prone to human faults and attacks.

 • With the creation of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto introduced economic incentives to a peer-to-peer network and solved the problem of human consensus.

SEE ALSO: What is a Blockchain Trilemma?

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What is Cryptoeconomics

Cryptoeconomics refers to the application of cryptography, computer networks, and game theory to operate and maintain a well-secured and decentralized system. It has to do with practices that govern the production, distribution, and consumption of value in a decentralized digital economy.

Derived from two words: Cryptography and Economics, cryptoeconomics covers the combination of both terms in effectively operating a Decentralised peer-to-peer network which we know as the blockchain.

Without cryptoeconomics, blockchains will be just like other peer-to-peer networks that existed before Bitcoin was launched.

The Objectives of Cryptography in Cryptoeconomics

Cryptography relates to secured communication strictly between two parties, the sender and the receiver, without any other party getting to know or receive the message.

Blockchains are based on peer-to-peer systems to be decentralized.

Strict exchange of currency and assets between two parties without a third party or central authority getting involved in the exchange is achieved by employing cryptography. In other words Hashing, Signatures, Proof of work/proof of stake which is an improved form of proof of work, are employed to keep a record of all transactions in blocks.

Learn how proof of stake improves proof of work.

Cryptography is also utilized in mining, a way of authenticating blocks and creating an immutable chain of blocks that makes blockchains what we know them to be.

The Objectives of Economics in Cryptoeconomics

In traditional finance or centralized systems, there is the existence of a central authority that coordinates, monitors, and makes decisions to make the system function the way it was meant to function and link two parties together.

Without a central authority to oversee and regulate the activities of a decentralized system, it opens up the obvious fact that participants on the network rely on one another to keep the peer-to-peer system secure and working. So they all have to come to a consensus to authenticate the network.

Validation of blocks on a blockchain is how the transfer of value is verified. This is carried out by miners.

Economics I applied as a way of keeping the system going by introducing rewards to miners for each block validated. With the game theory in play, which is simply following the option with the best benefits, miners are likely to follow the rules of the system to reap rewards.

This outlives other peer-to-peer networks like torrents which offered no rewards to participants, hence they could not be relied upon to follow the rules.

The supply of tokens on a blockchain is regulated by regulating the time interval per addition of blocks, the maximum number of blocks, and also a way of punishing defaulters through loss of value or a penalty.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. How do you make money with cryptocurrency?

Cryptoeconomics offer rewards to miners for performing tasks according to set rules.

Nowadays, proof of stake is employed by most blockchains and you can earn as a miner simply by picking the best staking coins and staking your cryptocurrencies.

Q2. How does proof of stake work?

Many top cryptocurrencies use the  Proof of stake consensus mechanism. The proof-of-stake model allows owners of a cryptocurrency to verify blocks by staking their coins as collateral.

When there is a need for a block to be validated, a coin owner will be chosen randomly, after which they receive profit on their staked coins.

Q3. Why is Cryptoeconomics useful?

Cryptoeconomics acts as the central authority of a decentralized system by ensuring its security and continuity.

Final Thoughts

Blockchain technology is not exactly perfect as the concept of cryptoeconomics upon which it breathes is still relatively new.

This simple way of using cryptography with backings of economics to regulate how participants in a peer-to-peer network behave is still undergoing improvements and getting better.

You too can be part of the improvements by staking. Cardano is popular crypto for staking. Make a pick from some of the best Cardano staking pools to earn high yields.