Editing Decentralization (section)

===== Blockchain technology =====
{{See also|Peer-to-peer|Web3|Decentralized finance}}

In [[blockchain]], decentralization refers to the transfer of control and decision-making from a centralized entity (individual, organization, or group thereof) to a distributed network. Decentralized networks strive to reduce the level of trust that participants must place in one another, and deter their ability to exert authority or control over one another in ways that degrade the functionality of the network.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Anderson|first=Mally|date=2019-02-07|title=Exploring Decentralization: Blockchain Technology and Complex Coordination|url=https://jods.mitpress.mit.edu/pub/7vxemtm3/release/2|journal=Journal of Design and Science|language=en}}</ref>

Decentralized protocols, applications, and ledgers (used in [[Web3]]<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Zarrin |first1=Javad |last2=Wen Phang |first2=Hao |last3=Babu Saheer |first3=Lakshmi |last4=Zarrin |first4=Bahram |title=Blockchain for decentralization of internet: prospects, trends, and challenges |journal=Cluster Computing |date=December 2021 |volume=24 |issue=4 |pages=2841–2866 |doi=10.1007/s10586-021-03301-8 |pmid=34025209 |pmc=8122205 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |doi=10.1002/9781119621201.ch1 |chapter=Blockchain |title=Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain Technology Applications |year=2020 |last1=Gururaj |first1=H. L. |last2=Manoj Athreya |first2=A. |last3=Kumar |first3=Ashwin A. |last4=Holla |first4=Abhishek M. |last5=Nagarajath |first5=S. M. |last6=Ravi Kumar |first6=V. |pages=1–24 |isbn=9781119621164 |s2cid=242394449 }}</ref>) could be more difficult for governments to regulate, similar to difficulties regulating [[BitTorrent]] (which is not a blockchain technology).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=McGinnis |first1=John |last2=Roche |first2=Kyle |title=Bitcoin: Order Without Law in the Digital Age |journal=Indiana Law Journal |date=October 2019 |volume=94 |issue=4 |pages=6 |url=https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/ilj/vol94/iss4/6/ }}</ref>