Definition ∞ Decentralization at scale addresses the challenge of maintaining a high degree of distributed control and operation within a blockchain network while simultaneously processing a large volume of transactions. It represents a fundamental tension between network security, transactional capacity, and the distribution of power among participants. Achieving this balance is a key objective for many blockchain protocols.
Context ∞ The pursuit of decentralization at scale remains a central technical and philosophical discussion within the blockchain community. Many layer one protocols are developing innovative solutions, such as sharding or novel consensus algorithms, to address this challenge. News articles frequently report on advancements or setbacks in achieving this difficult equilibrium, which affects network resilience and censorship resistance.