its entirely game theory because the only way to secure these distributed systems is if the participants all benefit most by enforcing the code and not deviating
In a way but I believe it is less direct in other examples. TCP was not built in a way with game theory in mind to give reward to the participants. I believe BTC will thrive because the users and miners are incentivized to strengthen and enforce the system instead of attack it, this was an important and purposeful part of the design.