Here's a great reply to a similar question on r/Bitcoin:

> Everyone can edit Bitcoin code. Nobody can force you to use their edits.
> 
> There is no power to abuse, just trust. You should think hard about who and what you trust. (That thinking hard by many people is what prevents such abuse.)

https://reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/4yoxjq/comment/d6pvgce
https://teddit.net/r/Bitcoin/comments/4yoxjq/comment/d6pvgce <-- Read-only view, which may be easier to read

cointastical

bitcoin

How does Bitcoin protect itself from Core Developer corruption and misinformation campaigns? 

Here's an example of that combination of incentives and game theory with regard to one example -- the 21M limit:

*Can Bitcoin's Hard Cap of 21 Million Be Changed?*
https://river.com/learn/can-bitcoins-hard-cap-of-21-million-be-changed/

(But ignore the part about miner and node signaling, that's not a hard rule and may not even be a part of the process in the future). 