# kaal:claim:3808873-042

**Claim.** A decentralized human backstop to code is a core and often overlooked infrastructure requirement, because without it the immutability of the blockchain and its cryptographic security may not create genuine transactional guarantees or trust between principals and agents in the integrity of their contractual relationship.

**Type.** design  **Support.** argued

**Holds when.**

- decentralized algorithmic systems mediating principal agent contractual relationships

**Source quote.**

> Without a decentralized human backstop to code, the immutability of the blockchain and its cryptographic security systems may not be able to create truly transactional guarantees and trust between principals and agents in the integrity of their contractual relationship.

**From.** Wulf A. Kaal, *Decentralization Neutralizers* (2021), XII. Decentralized Infrastructure Requirements, page 33

**Cite as.** Wulf A. Kaal, Decentralization Neutralizers (2021). SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3808873

**Verify.** sha256 of source PDF `f11493915e6b8c266d421510b5546816e33defb5650aac9d09b20d78549da727` at https://raw.githubusercontent.com/wulfkaal/Academic-Papers/main/papers/pdf/Kaal%20-%202021%20-%20Decentralization%20Neutralizers.pdf

**Failure mode.** Codeless Human Backstop Gap  (family: smart-contract-rigidity)

**Topics.** smart-contracts, reputation, ai-and-agents, corporate-governance

**Keywords.** human-backstop, immutability, smart-contracts, trust, principal-agent

**Related claims.**

- restates: https://wulfkaal.github.io/claims/3373393-038
- supersedes: https://wulfkaal.github.io/claims/3373393-019
- supersedes: https://wulfkaal.github.io/claims/3373393-018
- extends: https://wulfkaal.github.io/claims/3808867-030

**Canonical form.** This markdown file is the canonical hashed representation of the claim. Its sha256 is the content hash used for attestation.