# Decentralised

> Spread across many independent participants, with no single point of control.

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Source: What The Block! Dictionary v1.0 (last updated 2026-04-25), browsable at https://wtb.fudfomo.co.

## Definition

A decentralised system runs across many independent participants, with no single party in charge. In crypto, this can mean validators on a network, governance token holders in a DAO, or independent app developers using the same open standards.

Real decentralisation is a spectrum, not a switch. Even chains that look very decentralised can have heavy dependencies on a small set of clients, infrastructure providers, or maintainers.

## Related terms

- [Centralised](https://business.fudfomo.co/glossary/centralised): Run or controlled by a single party. The opposite of decentralised.
- [DAO](https://business.fudfomo.co/glossary/dao): Decentralised autonomous organisation. A group whose decisions and treasury are managed on a blockchain.
- [DeFi](https://business.fudfomo.co/glossary/defi): Decentralised finance. Apps that offer lending, trading, and saving on a blockchain instead of through a bank.
- [Blockchain](https://business.fudfomo.co/glossary/blockchain): A shared digital record of transactions that no single person or company controls. Everyone can read it, and changes are extremely hard to fake.

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