"... maybe decentralization is only a bootstrapping mechanism to gain credible neutrality [...] then maybe we just need decentralization for the memes..." - Justin Drake (Ethereum researcher)

https://twitter.com/eddieoz/status/1675472101912768517

Transcription:

"And then another kind of question that I've been wondering is what is the value of decentralization because there is one possible scenario which is that we lose decentralization with restaking, but it doesn't actually matter.

And maybe decentralization is only a bootstrapping mechanism to gain credible neutrality up until the point where we basically have technology, we have systems that don't rely so much on decentralization of the operators specifically.

We still need decentralization of the nodes, but if the operators are basically handcuffed, they can't do censorship because we have inclusion lists, and they can't do any of the other bad stuff.

Then maybe we only need decentralization for the memes because it kind of looks good. But once we've won, once Ethereum is a $100 trillion settlement layer for the incentive value, then maybe the value of decentralization goes down a little bit".

Link for the full interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP9f_1v9Ulc&t=4389s