What is the dark forest metaphor?

The "dark forest" metaphor originates from the sci-fi series The Three Body Problem by Liu Cixin. It describes an environment brimming with dangerous, highly advanced predators. In this metaphorical forest, the only way to stay safe is to remain unseen, as revealing oneself is tantamount to destruction. Publicly identifying someone else can lead to their demise, symbolizing the need for concealment to ensure survival 1.

In the context of cryptocurrencies, this metaphor has been applied to illustrate the challenges and risks within the crypto ecosystem. For example, navigating the crypto world is likened to traversing a dark forest where one must be vigilant about misinformation and security risks at every turn. Survival in this environment requires constant learning, doing one's own research, and staying cautious of unseen dangers 2 3.