Decentralized Principle

Definition ∞ The decentralized principle is the foundational concept that power and control should be distributed among many participants rather than concentrated in a single entity. In digital asset systems, this mandates that no single party holds exclusive authority over network operations, data storage, or decision-making. It promotes censorship resistance, fault tolerance, and transparency by requiring consensus among independent nodes. Adherence to this principle reduces reliance on trusted intermediaries.
Context ∞ The decentralized principle is central to the philosophy of many blockchain projects, yet its practical implementation often involves varying degrees of centralization for efficiency or governance. Discussions frequently address the spectrum of decentralization, from fully permissionless public blockchains to more controlled private networks. The ongoing pursuit of true decentralization while maintaining scalability remains a significant technical and ideological challenge for the industry.