Economics of blockchain-based systems

Our group investigated the economic aspects of blockchain-based systems adopting several methodologies, including agent-based and microeconomic modelling. We are interested in the design of optimal incentives for participation in decentralised systems. Classic economic theories such as principal-agent theory, mechanism design and game theory are used to derive these incentives. Further, these approaches are expected to lead to more profound questions such as mining/staking rewards, and quantifying specialisation and self-organised centralisation. The methodology of network science is particularly relevant to this topic, as it offers a valuable toolbox to connect individual and collective behaviour beyond classical economic assumptions of homogeneity.