Bitcoin required consensus
Consensus of rules – which kind of block exists
Consensus of history
Consensus that coins are valuable – who owns the coins
These consensuses provide incentives for bitcoins mining. Bitcoin relies on consensus, it relies on agreement by the participants and that that consensus is a fragile and interdependent thing.
Who are the stakeholders?
Miners write history, make the blocks, record transactions. Investors decide if the bitcoin has any value. Merchants and users influence its acceptance.