Decentralizing coordination, one mechanism at a time
Mechanism Institute is a research hub that advances onchain mechanisms. Our mission is to empower communities worldwide to design and deploy mechanisms that unlock new forms of coordination.
Blockchain-based mechanisms represent a paradigm shift from legacy institutions, enabling agreements that are:
1. Self-executing: Automatically enforce their own conditions
2. Censorship-resistant: Cannot be interfered with by central authorities
3. Socially scalable: Coordinate an unbounded number of actors and interactions
Yet, these mechanisms remain underexplored and poorly understood.
Our Theory of Change centers on:
The Library
Mapping the mechanism design space to illuminate the range of onchain experiments conducted to date.
Research Reports
Deep-diving into how existing mechanisms can be composed to solve complex problems in specific domains.
Inventions & Interventions
Designing new mechanisms and orchestrating real-world interventions that accelerate the shift to intermediary-less institutions.