One word you’ll hear a lot in the financial world is “decentralization.” We use it frequently and doubtless you’ve encountered it in other blog posts, podcasts, and books discussing the subject of money. But today, let’s dig a little deeper into what decentralization means, and look at some practical ways it is being implemented in our society.
DECENTRALIZATION AS A CONCEPT
To summarize, the concept of decentralization is the tendency and desire to gravitate away from larger, highly regulated entities toward smaller entities that allow for more individual freedom. Merriam Webster defines it as: “the dispersion or distribution of functions and powers.”
Certainly this concept applies to the financial system, but it is also interesting to note the trend of decentralization across other areas of our lives, and the practical steps that have been taken to implement it.
DECENTRALIZATION TODAY
Centralized entities are prevalent throughout our society, from social media platforms, to large businesses, to educational insitutitions, news media, and beyond. Until recently, these entities were growing at an incredible pace. So what has caused their growth to slow?
Let’s look at Facebook, for example. The largest social media platform in the world has recently undergone a rather steep decline in use and growth. There are several reasons for this, including:
- Ads – Users are tired of having their Facebook feeds spammed with ads they did not opt in to see. This has resulted in lower engagement for businesses on the platform, and even paid ads aren’t getting the reach they used to due to changes in the FB algorithm.
- The Algorithm – Many users don’t like the fact that the Facebook algorithm changes constantly and heavily filters which posts they see in their feed, limiting their connection with family, friends, and news sources they actually want to hear from.
These are aspects of centralization and high concentration of power (to say nothing of the recent privacy debacle), and people are gravitating away from the platform toward others that allow for more individual freedom, such as Instagram and MeWe.
Another example of decentralization in action is found in the dramatic increase in the small business survival rate. Increasingly, consumers are moving away from larger entities, and channeling that support toward smaller local companies whom they have a stronger relational connection with. In this digital age, personal touch matters more than ever.
Similar shifts are occurring in the spheres of media, education, and government. There is no question, decentralization is on the rise, with people taking action to implement it in their own daily lives.
MONEY AND DECENTRALIZATION
This brings us back to the issue of money and the financial system. Unlike many other spheres, financial institutions have been steeped in the centralization of big banks for longer than anyone can remember, making solutions to the problem much more hazy and uncertain.
Without a doubt, the monetary system is also moving towards decentralization, as we have seen with the crypto craze. However, at this time no one is quite sure what a decentralized monetary eco-system will look like.
In some cases, the surrounding confusion can lead to paralysis, as people are uncertain of how to proceed and whom to trust. Some were burned by volatility in the crypto market. Others simply aren’t sure where to start when it comes to protecting their wealth and savings as the investment landscape begins to shift.
GOLD AND SILVER OFFER PROTECTION
In times of uncertainty, the stability of gold and silver provides a way to apply the concept of decentralization to your investments. Owning them allows you to:
- Protect your wealth
- Build your savings
- Secure your investments in proven, tangible assets
Our platform puts control in your hands. You have the power to choose when and how you want to save and invest, and where you want your assets stored. This flexibility allows you to operate outside of larger entities without depending on them for your financial security.
Despite the foggy horizon regarding the future of the monetary system, you can rest assured knowing you own assets that have been proven throughout history to protect against times exactly like these.