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Optimal Smart Contracts with Costly Verification

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  • Mamageishvili, A.
  • Schlegel, J. C.

Abstract

We study optimal smart contract design for monitoring an exchange of an item performed offine. There are two parties, a seller and a buyer. Exchange happens of-chain, but the status update takes place on-chain. The exchange can be verified but with a cost. To guarantee self-enforcement of the smart contract, both parties make a deposit and the deposits must cover payments made in all possible final states. Both parties have an (opportunity) cost of making deposits. We discuss two classes of contract: In the first, the contract only interacts with the seller, while in the second, the contract can also interact with the buyer. In both cases, we derive optimal contracts specifying optimal deposits and verification policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Mamageishvili, A. & Schlegel, J. C., 2019. "Optimal Smart Contracts with Costly Verification," Working Papers 19/13, Department of Economics, City University London.
    • Handle: RePEc:cty:dpaper:19/13
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    File URL: https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/22682/1/Dept_Econ_WP1913.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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