{"id":117614,"date":"2020-11-22T17:12:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-22T14:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/the-word-decentralized-has-lost-all-meaning-enough-is-enough\/"},"modified":"2020-11-22T17:12:00","modified_gmt":"2020-11-22T14:12:00","slug":"the-word-decentralized-has-lost-all-meaning-enough-is-enough","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-word-decentralized-has-lost-all-meaning-enough-is-enough\/","title":{"rendered":"# The word \u2018decentralized\u2019 has lost all meaning \u2014 Enough is enough"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a240a55e5c66\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a240a55e5c66\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-word-decentralized-has-lost-all-meaning-enough-is-enough\/#Lessons_need_to_be_learned\" >Lessons need to be learned<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-word-decentralized-has-lost-all-meaning-enough-is-enough\/#What_decentralization_must_look_like\" >What decentralization must look like<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;<strong># The word \u2018decentralized\u2019 has lost all meaning \u2014 Enough is enough <\/strong>&#8221;<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.cointelegraph.com\/images\/840_aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5jb2ludGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS91cGxvYWRzLzIwMjAtMTEvYjk2NzFmYjktMGMzZS00ZTQ5LWEyNWQtNTc1MjlhYTU1ZmFkLmpwZw==.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-content\" data-v-5a136f3a>Decentralization: It\u2019s a word that holds so much power and promise. But over the years, it\u2019s become painfully clear that this concept isn\u2019t being given the respect it deserves \u2014 and the consequences can be downright dangerous.<\/p>\n<p>We live in a world where DAOs aren\u2019t DAOs, where independent validators aren\u2019t independent, and where PR departments breezily gloss over the fact that some blockchain projects are far more centralized than they may seem.<\/p>\n<p>Emotionally and financially, countless crypto enthusiasts have bought into decentralized projects \u2014 full of belief that these platforms will bring about change and hopeful that they could make a lasting contribution that would make the world a better place.<\/p>\n<p>Back in September, Glassnode questioned whether Uniswap was as decentralized as it <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ears to be. An \u201cimmense proportion\u201d of the total supply of UNI tokens, 40% to be exact, has been allocated to the platform\u2019s teams and investors, and the only entity with enough UNI to submit a governance proposal is Binance, a centralized rival. Glassnode went on to accuse the Uniswap team of \u201csomewhat deceptive\u201d marketing, adding: \u201cThe narrative of a shift toward decentralized community ownership feels somewhat disingenuous.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And in March, the supposedly decentralized Steem blockchain fell victim to a \u201chostile handover\u201d by Tron founder Justin Sun. One major stakeholder, Dan Hensley, accused Sun of bribing his way to the top of Steem with \u201cmoney, power and users\u201d \u2014 and went on to claim that his domination \u201cturned Steem into a centralized security.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Enough is enough.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lessons_need_to_be_learned\"><\/span>Lessons need to be learned<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To understand why the facade of decentralization can be downright dangerous, here\u2019s a real-world example.<\/p>\n<p>On a boat in the middle of the Nile 10 years ago, I proposed to my girlfriend. She said yes. We returned to the United Kingdom, yearning to go on vacation to Upper Egypt again. <\/p>\n<p>A short time later, the failed Egyptian uprising began. My background as a journalist, mixed with the paranoia of the country\u2019s authoritarian government, made it too risky to return.<\/p>\n<p>Back then, pro-democracy protesters \u2014 who were mostly young, secular and \u201cconnected\u201d \u2014 put their faith in <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">social media<\/a> platforms and messaging apps, believing they were decentralized enough to give them a fair hearing and an accurate view of what was happening in Egypt.<\/p>\n<p>Their faith turned out to be misplaced.<\/p>\n<p>Before their movement was crushed, I actually wrote an article about this exciting use of <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"Technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">technology<\/a> \u2014 contrasting it against centralized, state-controlled broadcasters. I had been naive: Twitter and Facebook turned out to be centralized organizations like any other. These platforms quickly turned into tools of <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wired.co.uk\/article\/egypt-fake-news-facebook-oppress-women\">suppression<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-middle-east-44858547\">censorship<\/a> and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justsecurity.org\/72961\/disinformation-wars-in-egypt-the-inauthentic-battle-on-twitter-between-egyptian-government-and-opposition\/\">propaganda<\/a> by the various forces operating within Egypt (including the military, Islamist extremists and foreign powers). Internet service providers handed over user data to the government, Facebook admins and posters lost their freedom, and some lost more than that. <\/p>\n<p>The internet was born free, but decisions made by corporations infected this revolutionary technology with centralization. Since then, several decentralized blockchain networks \u2014 Ethereum among them \u2014 have suffered a similar fate.<\/p>\n<p>Lessons need to be learned. We now know that decentralization can diminish over time unless the issue is tackled head on. The only way to do this is by hardwiring the principle of decentralization into the blockchain itself\u2026 from day one.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_decentralization_must_look_like\"><\/span>What decentralization must look like<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>After years of broken promises and disappointment, it\u2019s little wonder that the meaning of decentralization has been lost. Crypto enthusiasts have had to manage their expectations and make do with the downsides of current governance models.<\/p>\n<p>We need to take a step back and acknowledge that deep flaws exist in the way many blockchains are set up. These flaws, which often sow unfairness and a lack of transparency, drag us to the centralized world we are trying to avoid.<\/p>\n<p>Take grants as an example. On the face of it, these programs have the potential to spread wealth and influence among a community \u2014 but look a little closer, and you start to see things in a different way.<\/p>\n<p>As Lane Rettig recently <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.etherean.org\/blockchain\/economics\/2020\/05\/10\/the-problem-with-grants.html\">wrote<\/a>, grants are often very centralized. Founders use them to further existing agendas, and funds tend to be given to people they already know and trust. It can be a breeding ground for bias and nepotism \u2014 and means blockchain\u2019s unique selling point of \u201cpermissionless innovation\u201d goes to waste. He pointed out how some of the largest grants dished out by the Ethereum Foundation were awarded to close friends of Vitalik Buterin, adding: \u201cI have yet to see a well-run grants program in the blockchain space.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It doesn\u2019t have to be this way. What if contests were held instead? This would ensure that everyone<em> <\/em>in the community can have their say in how funds are distributed \u2014 creating a meritocracy where tokens are awarded based on talent, not connections. Vote results would be recorded on-chain, meaning any conflicts of interest would be easier to detect. Better still, it would make getting involved in a community far less daunting. The quietest people in the room often have the best ideas.<\/p>\n<p>Concerted action to stop the creeping threat of centralization in its tracks doesn\u2019t end here.<\/p>\n<p>The funds it takes to get involved in staking can often be prohibitively high. And when an individual stakes tokens with a validator, this can mean that they\u2019re forfeiting the right to vote how they please, as the validator will make decisions on their behalf. But what if all these individuals retained their voting rights during the staking process, preventing power from being concentrated into the hands of a few?<\/p>\n<p>And there\u2019s more hard work to be done. Decentralized governance only works if it\u2019s truly scalable. If a network collapses because 100, 1,000 or 1,000,000 people want to participate, it\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/game\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">game<\/a> over. Blockchains need to be built with mass-scale messaging in mind and must be able to cope with a high throughput of secure transactions \u2014 enabling large-scale votes and contests to be held in real time.<\/p>\n<p>And last but not least, there need to be adequate incentives for long-term participation. Sub-governance groups are key here, as they can give individuals the freedom to build their experience and reputation in the areas they enjoy most. Passionate about social media strategy? There\u2019s a group for that. Fascinated by how node cores are maintained? That\u2019ll be the second door on the right.<\/p>\n<p>Once people see that a successful combination of decentralized governance and decentralized money is possible, there will be no going back \u2014 and blockchains that merely have the veneer of decentralization will have tough questions to answer.<\/p>\n<p>I hope it\u2019s just a matter of time before this new way of cooperating, free from any central control or hierarchy or manipulation, reaches people in every country \u2014 including Egypt. <\/p>\n<p class=\"post-content__disclaimer\"><em>The views, thoughts and opinions expressed here are the author\u2019s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.<\/em><\/p>\n<div>\n<div style=\"background: rgb(239, 239, 239); border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px;\"><strong>Sharif Sakr<\/strong><em> <\/em>is a former BBC and Engadget journalist who now works as a product management specialist for blockchain investment fund BR Capital, as well as teaching product management workshops at the University of Oxford. He is an initial launch member of the Free TON Community.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><template data-name=\"subscription_form\" data-type=\"markets_outlook\"><\/template><\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/general\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">General category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/cointelegraph.com\/news\/the-word-decentralized-has-lost-all-meaning-enough-is-enough\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;# The word \u2018decentralized\u2019 has lost all meaning \u2014 Enough is enough &#8221; Decentralization: It\u2019s a word that holds so much power and promise. But over the years, it\u2019s become painfully clear that this concept isn\u2019t being given the respect it deserves \u2014 and the consequences can be downright dangerous. We live in a world&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":117615,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/s3.cointelegraph.com\/uploads\/2020-11\/b9671fb9-0c3e-4e49-a25d-57529aa55fad.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[74894,74863,75186,74983,75579,4965],"class_list":["post-117614","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","tag-blockchain","tag-cryptocurrencies","tag-dao","tag-decentralization","tag-steem","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117614","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=117614"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117614\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/117615"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=117614"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=117614"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=117614"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}