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@ klk
2025-06-11 09:59:27I've been thinking about Bitcoin's long-term trajectory and whether it might mirror what happened with the internet.
The Internet Parallel: - Started as a decentralized protocol among tech enthusiasts - Remained fundamentally decentralized and "based" - But in practice, most users experience it through centralized gatekeepers: - Google Chrome + Google Search - Twitter/Reddit/Instagram for content - Amazon for commerce
The Counter-Examples:
Of course, some of us still use: - Firefox + Kagi - Nostr/Stacker.news/RSS feeds - XMPP/Matrix/... for communications
And the internet is still vastly more decentralized and censorship-resistant than the pre-internet world.
The Bitcoin Question:
Will Bitcoin face similar practical centralization pressures? Will most people end up using Bitcoin through a handful of corporate interfaces while the underlying protocol remains decentralized?
Root Cause:
Is this centralization tendency due to:
- Human nature - people preferring convenience over sovereignty?
- Broken money systems that enable these mega-corporations to capture markets?
What do you think? Is practical centralization inevitable for successful decentralized protocols, or can Bitcoin chart a different course?
https://stacker.news/items/1003297