Decentralisation is not a new concept, it is an idea from the beginning of time. Human beings have always strived for freedom and autonomy, they want to be free. Decentralisation has the same ethos. It reflects the same ideas because somewhere down the annals of time, we lost the way and started getting a little too comfy in being mollycoddled by the government, policy makers galore and entities of power.

Socrates believed in the power of questioning authority and encouraged people to think independently. His philosophy laid the groundwork for the idea of freedom and intellectual autonomy, which resonate with the principles of decentralization today.

It is comfortable to give away your autonomy for convenience.

It is easy to not think, hence we delegate. We delegate decision making, thinking, opinion formulation to an authority and well, it is oh so comfy, at first but it comes back to bite you right in the rear, very soon.

We have done that for a long time. Convenience is good but think about what you are giving up in the name of convenience, you are keeping your hard earned money in banks and the banks can be mercurial, at best, about their “rules”. They will have a tonne of questions to ask you if go and try to withdraw all your own money from them. The universal credit score tracks your every move and entities decide how credit worthy are you – even the smallest indiscretion – which at times, might not be your fault at all, will have an impact on your score.

We rely on the government to provide but that does not always pan out because there is taxation sans any services.

Centralisation has aways led to corruption, any centre of power turns into a hub of autocratic centres, there are many examples that we have seen over the years- the Enron scandal, the collapse of the Roman Empire.

But the desire in us to be free, sans any shackles is strong.

Lo behold the glory of decentralisation.

Fast forward to today: blockchain technology and Web3 offer solutions to the pitfalls of centralized power. With decentralized networks, power is distributed across users, creating systems that are more transparent, secure, and free from single points of control.

I am here to tell you that you are already living with the ethos of decentralisation- don’t believe me?

Read on.

I am going o talk about the various instances that will show you, dear read, how you are already, decentralised.

The rise of decentralised work or remote work started a little back before covid that set in, but covid brought with it, a silver lining too, the acceptance of this work.

People globally realised that they can work, get paid and live a life that is beyond just going to work and live for weekends and holidays.

Companies like GitLab and Automattic (the company behind WordPress) have fully distributed teams, with employees working from home or co-working spaces around the world. This decentralized work model allows for more flexibility, productivity, and access to a global talent pool.

Crowdfunding and Peer to Peer funding- All of us have seen ads for various platforms that solo for crowdfunding for a god cause or for startups. As this source of funding is distributed, that makes it decentralised. Any entrepreneur can launch their platform on Kickstarter and get funding to build or scale their vision.

Decentralized energy grids, such as those powered by solar panels or microgrids, are becoming more popular as individuals and communities seek to generate and control their own energy. This reduces reliance on centralized utilities and allows for more sustainable energy production.

In some areas, local neighborhoods are setting up microgrids to generate solar power and store it in community batteries. This allows them to be energy-independent and reduces strain on the centralized grid.

The open-source movement is a prime example of decentralization in action. Software projects like Linux, Apache, and WordPress are developed by a community of contributors from around the world. The code is open for anyone to modify and improve, ensuring that no single entity controls its development.

Linux, the operating system kernel, is maintained by thousands of developers globally, with contributions coming from individuals, corporations, and educational institutions. This decentralized model of software development has produced some of the most reliable and widely-used software in the world.

All of us have used wikipedia- what do you think, that is? It is a decentralized, community-driven knowledge base. Contributors from all over the world can create, edit, and update content. There’s no central authority controlling what’s written, and the content is moderated by the community.

Coursera, Udemy, and Khan Academy offer decentralized education, providing access to high-quality courses for people around the world. These platforms allow users to learn at their own pace without the need to attend centralized institutions like universities.

Language learning apps like Duolingo allow users to learn languages independently, breaking the traditional need for a classroom setting.

Wearable devices like Fitbit and Apple Watch decentralize health tracking by allowing individuals to monitor their fitness, heart rate, sleep, and more without relying on a centralized healthcare system.

Self-Publishing: Platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and Wattpad enable authors to publish books and stories without the need for traditional publishing houses, giving individuals more control over their creative works.

Decentralized Social Media: Platforms like Mastodon and Peepeth allow users to create and control their own social networks, free from centralized authorities or algorithms controlling their data.

Ride-Sharing: Platforms like Uber and Lyft operate on decentralized principles by connecting drivers directly with riders, bypassing traditional taxi companies. Though the companies themselves are centralized, the model reflects decentralization by enabling direct transactions between individuals.

Home-Sharing: Platforms like Airbnb allow homeowners to rent out their spaces directly to guests, decentralizing the traditional hotel industry and allowing individuals to participate in the tourism economy.

Decentralization is more than a buzzword—it’s a shift in how we interact with the world. Whether through finance, education, healthcare, or work, individuals are gaining more autonomy and control over their own lives. The rise of Web3, remote work, peer-to-peer platforms, and decentralized learning are all signals of this profound shift toward a future where power is more evenly distributed. As we embrace these decentralized principles, we find ourselves more empowered, more connected, and more aligned with the values of freedom and autonomy that have always driven human progress. In a world that’s continuously centralizing, decentralization offers us the ability to break free, innovate, and build systems that truly work for everyone.

This is not to say that decentralisation has no pit-falls, it does and we will touch upon those in upcoming posts.

What are your thoughts on how you are already decentralised? Does dabbling in DeFi and the new tech, not seem imperative for you, as an individual, now?

Next part coming up, soon!