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> My intuition tells me that there is a network law that hasn't been formulated yet that says that decentralized networks trend towards centralized super nodes

> My intuition tells me that there is a network law that hasn't been formulated yet that says that decentralized networks trend towards centralized super nodes when certain contraints and requirements are placed on the decentralized network (or maybe there is one and I haven't heard about it) There’s a generalized version, if not one specific to blockchains and cryptocurrencies: In complex, non-linear dynamic systems, the critical resources of the system tend to concentrate and consolidate over time, due to positive feedback, winner-take-all, and similar effects inherent in these systems. Decentralized systems are subject to these dynamics too, as we’re seeing with both mining/validating concentration and ownership of the wealth in these systems. People are aware of the problem, but it’s probably unsolvable, deterministically at least. In broader society, in the past, such trends have tended to eventually result in some kind of collapse or revolution (French, Bolshevik, etc). It’s like there’s a natural asymptote to the concentration of resources, that forces a (painful) reset once they become too concentrated.

webmaven 5y ago
> In complex, non-linear dynamic systems, the critical resources of the system tend to concentrate and consolidate over time, due to positive feedback, winner-take-all, and similar effects inherent in these systems. Decentralized systems are subject to these dynamics too, I've come across various essays and posts that make this point tangentially, but not much that investigates it directly. If you are aware of any, links would be appreciated. > It’s like there’s a natural asymptote to the concentration of resources, that forces a (painful) reset once they become too concentrated. Likewise, if you know of work to determine how concentrated is too concentrated, that would be interesting.
stjohnswarts 5y ago
Game theory applies well to many scenarios in cryptcurrency and decentralized efforts. People always want more power, at least the people who end up at the top do. There is no limit to that desire for power and control so it's inevitable that it ends up concentrated at the top.

webmaven 5y ago

> In complex, non-linear dynamic systems, the critical resources of the system tend to concentrate and consolidate over time, due to positive feedback, winner-take-all, and similar effects inherent in these systems. Decentralized systems are subject to these dynamics too, I've come across various essays and posts that make this point tangentially, but not much that investigates it directly. If you are aware of any, links would be appreciated. > It’s like there’s a natural asymptote to the concentration of resources, that forces a (painful) reset once they become too concentrated. Likewise, if you know of work to determine how concentrated is too concentrated, that would be interesting.

stjohnswarts 5y ago

Game theory applies well to many scenarios in cryptcurrency and decentralized efforts. People always want more power, at least the people who end up at the top do. There is no limit to that desire for power and control so it's inevitable that it ends up concentrated at the top.