I think this was understood even in the earliest days of bitcoin. The centralized system of "playing fair" was the protocol, which as you point out, is a centr

I think this was understood even in the earliest days of bitcoin. The centralized system of "playing fair" was the protocol, which as you point out, is a centralized community standard. Blockchain is independent actors following a common protocol. If the actors don't follow the centralized, common protocol then the economy disintegrates.