The rapid digitalization of economic systems, combined with the emergence of decentralized technologies, is fundamentally reshaping the mechanisms of economic coordination. Traditional models rooted in centralized market-making and state-mediated regulation are increasingly inadequate in explaining the dynamics of digitally-mediated, peer-to-peer, and trustless economic exchanges. This paper develops a conceptual framework to understand how digital infrastructures—such as blockchain, smart contracts, and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs)—are transforming economic coordination mechanisms across markets, institutions, and labor systems.

Drawing upon institutional economics, transaction cost theory, and digital platform studies, we synthesize emerging literature to conceptualize the shift from centralized coordination (via firms and governments) toward algorithmically enabled decentralization. We also explore how trust, reputation, and governance are redefined in this evolving landscape. The framework identifies three key dimensions—technological mediation, governance decentralization, and value reallocation—that collectively redefine coordination costs, ownership structures, and economic agency.

Our model contributes to the growing discourse on post-platform capitalism by offering a structured lens to analyze the trade-offs and opportunities presented by decentralized digital economies. We conclude by outlining theoretical and policy implications, particularly for regulation, taxation, and inclusive innovation, and propose directions for empirical testing in future research.