To check later - Golem for performing computations, filecoin for decentralized file storage.
The argument is that from 1980s-2000s people were using a lot of community built open source protocols, but post 2000s FAAG came up and OS protocols couldn't keep pace. The advantage was access to internet to millions with compromised control, trust and privacy.
He says this discouraged innovation as people started to think things were out of their control - I understand why, but can't intuitively see that link so strongly as to place the onus upon it. " Centralization has also created broader societal tensions, which we see in the debates over subjects like fake news, state sponsored bots, “no platforming” of users, EU privacy laws, and algorithmic biases." - Again can't see the link between centralization and most of these, especially fake news - why will it propagate less on a decentralized platform?
Let’s look at the problems with centralized platforms. Centralized platforms follow a predictable life cycle. When they start out, they do everything they can to recruit users and 3rd-party complements like developers, businesses, and media organizations. They do this to make their services more valuable, as platforms (by definition) are systems with multi-sided network effects. As platforms move up the adoption S-curve, their power over users and 3rd parties steadily grows. When they hit the top of the S-curve, their relationships with network participants change from positive-sum to zero-sum. The easiest way to continue growing lies in extracting data from users and competing with complements over audiences and profits.
Cryptonetworks - Cryptonetworks are networks built on top of the internet that 1) use consensus mechanisms such as blockchains to maintain and update state, 2) use cryptocurrencies (coins/tokens) to incentivize consensus participants (miners/validators) and other network participants. Some cryptonetworks, such as Ethereum, are general programming platforms that can be used for almost any purpose. Other cryptonetworks are special purpose, for example Bitcoin is intended primarily for storing value, Golem for performing computations, and Filecoin for decentralized file storage.
Cryptonetworks use multiple mechanisms to ensure that they stay neutral as they grow, preventing the bait-and-switch of centralized platforms. First, the contract between cryptonetworks and their participants is enforced in open source code. Second, they are kept in check through mechanisms for “voice” and “exit.” Participants are given voice through community governance, both “on chain” (via the protocol) and “off chain” (via the social structures around the protocol). Participants can exit either by leaving the network and selling their coins, or in the extreme case by forking the protocol - this ends up aligning network participants to work together towards a common goal - growth of the network and appreciation of the token.
Today’s cryptonetworks suffer from limitations that keep them from seriously challenging centralized incumbents. The most severe limitations are around performance and scalability. The next few years will be about fixing these limitations and building networks that form the infrastructure layer of the crypto stack. After that, most of the energy will turn to building applications on top of that infrastructure.
Why Chris thinks decentralization will win?
- Decentralized networks can win the third era of internet for the same reason they won the first era : by winning the hearts and minds of entrepreneurs and developers. In the case of cryptonetworks, there are multiple, compounding feedback loops involving developers of the core protocol, developers of complementary cryptonetworks, developers of 3rd party applications, and service providers who operate the network. These feedback loops are further amplified by the incentives of the associated token, which — as we’ve seen with Bitcoin and Ethereum — can supercharge the rate at which crypto communities develop (and sometimes lead to negative outcomes, as with the excessive electricity consumed by Bitcoin mining).

• Not an article about blockchain or cryptocurrencies, but its central point makes a strong argument in favour of both. While blockchain detractors point out its non-suitability for doing old things better, they miss the new things blockchains can unlock.
• New technologies enable activities that fall into one of two categories:
  • 1) Doing things you could already do but can now do better because they are faster, cheaper, easier, higher quality, etc.
  • 2) Doing brand new things that you simply couldn’t do before
• "The early electrical grid delivered light better than gas and candles. It took decades before we got an electricity “app store” — a rich ecosystem of appliances that connected to the grid"
• "When evaluating the potential of blockchains, people sometimes focus on things like cheaper and faster global payments" - these are in the "doing old things better" category. They don't consider the crypto-native category, such as "services that are owned and operated by their users", among others.