Decentralization, a word you likely associate with blockchain,  bitcoin, and cryptocurrency.

Now whether you love cryptocurrencies or not, the principle behind them decentralization is a powerful concept.

Decentralization requires multiple parties to make their own independent decisions. A decentralized system does not have a single centralized authority that makes decisions on behalf of all the parties.

The idea that you can interact freely with others, no third party needed, is an idea worth expanding to categories beyond the decentralized of currency.

Lo3senergy is an energy company that uses decentralization in a creative way. “LO3 Energy is developing blockchain based innovations to revolutionize how energy can be generated, stored, bought, sold and used, all at the local level.”

Storj is a storage company that uses decentralization. “Storj is building a next-generation decentralized cloud storage network, set to launch in Alpha this fall. By renting unused hard drive and bandwidth capacity around the globe, rather than operating our own data center…”

The Brooklyn microgrid  is another decentralized energy company. “In Brooklyn, LO3 Energy has teamed up with Siemens to create a pilot microgrid using blockchain technology. Residents with solar panels can sell excess energy back to their neighbors, in a peer-to-peer transaction which takes advantage of blockchain.”

It’s great to see the idea of decentralization taking off. As well as the future of cryptocurrency with Marc Andreessen, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist, launching his crypto fund of 300mil. The future holds great things for both decentralization and cryptocurrencies and I’m excited to see where they go.