Blockchain - an opportunity to conceive, design, and implement decentralized systems

Anyone who has spent some time learning about blockchain can attest to this fact that there are different points of view about blockchain. For example, one point of view is that blockchain is a platform to build digital solutions or crypto currencies. Another point of view that surfaces sometimes is that blockchain is a solution looking for problems. We can all agree or disagree with any of these and many other views, but certainly some views are less rational than others.

For example, how can we view anything to be a solution without some knowledge of the associated problems. If we accept blockchain as a solution, we must have some inclination of what type of problems it solves. So the view that blockchain is a solution looking for problems does not seem very rational. Similarly if we accept blockchain as platform for new solutions, we must expect to see all the capabilities needed to enable and support a complete solution.

In this article I explore the view that I agree with (at least for now) - that blockchain is an opportunity. An opportunity to conceive, design, and implement new, decentralized systems. While I may agree with this view because its my own :), I like to elaborate the rationale a bit more.

The value of blockchain becomes more apparent in the context of decentralization where systemic controls shift from a single entity (centralized system) to a group of entities or indeed all entities involved in a system. The group of entities maybe a consortium of organizations or a group of individual persons.

Blockchain's ability to automate consensus and customize the consensus through smart contracts is the foundation for a decentralized system. The replicated ledger of immutable records adds a layer of transparency, which is more essential in decentralized systems.

So these core concepts and capabilities of blockchain become a force with which we can conceive new systems that decentralize processes and empower entities to transact as peers who believe in ensuring transparency.

The emphasis is on decentralization of systems and using blockchain to facilitate all aspects of it (brainstorming, architecture, design, and implementation). I think if we view blockchain this way, we wont think of it as a solution or as a platform but as opportunities to change and transform the status quo.

Years ago, WWW was also an opportunity to connect or reconnect with the entire world. The most successful implementations of WWW were mostly new systems, conceived to use and leverage the power of internet. Similarly, blockchain is an opportunity and most likely the successful implementations of blockchain will be new decentralized systems and not centralized or distributed systems ported to operate on blockchain networks as pseudo decentralized systems.

So rather than talk about blockchain, we should talk about decentralization of systems and perhaps explain how blockchain helps us achieve the goals and objectives of decentralization.

let me know if you agree with this view, even partially.