The term for an economic ecosystem that incentivizes specific actions by rewarding tokens for those actions is called a token economy or tokenized economy. A token economy is a system where individuals earn tokens as reinforcement for exhibiting desired behaviors or performing specific actions. These tokens hold value within the system and can be accumulated and exchanged for rewards, privileges, or other benefits. The concept is based on operant conditioning, where positive reinforcement strengthens desired behaviors by providing immediate, tangible rewards in the form of tokens. This system is widely used in behavioral management, education, therapy, and increasingly in blockchain and cryptocurrency ecosystems to motivate user engagement and participation

. In blockchain contexts, this is often referred to as tokenomics , which designs and manages the economic system around a cryptocurrency or blockchain project. Tokenomics includes the distribution, utility, and incentives of tokens to encourage specific user actions, contributing to network growth, governance participation, and community building

. In summary:

• Token Economy : A behavioral system rewarding tokens for specific actions or behaviors, which can be exchanged for rewards.
• Tokenized Economy / Tokenomics : The broader economic design in blockchain projects that incentivizes actions through token rewards.

Both terms describe ecosystems that use tokens as incentives to drive desired behaviors and engagement.