Decentralisation: Freedom or Fragmented Control?

Decentralisation: Freedom or Fragmented Control?

Author: Gareth King March 11, 2026 Duration: 46:50
Ruined By The Internet? | Uncovering the human cost of our digital world
TechnologyScienceSociety & Culture

The internet promised to be an escape from centralised power - a user-controlled, peer-to-peer network that would democratise access and dismantle the gatekeepers. But thanks to the domination of Big Tech and Venture Capital, has that dream been systematically stolen and replaced by a new set of gatekeepers wearing different clothes?

Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.

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We're joined by Joseph Kennedy - Head of Marketing & Growth at blockchain platform Alephium - who works at the centre of decentralisation and understands better than most the gap between what the technology promised and what it delivered.

In this episode we investigate how venture capital and Big Tech quietly captured the decentralisation movement, examine the rise and fall of crypto's public credibility, explore the regulatory battle between governments and decentralised networks, and ask whether true decentralisation is still possible - or whether the centre always wins in the end.

(00:00) The promise of decentralisation and how it was eroded

(02:50) The role of venture capital in shaping crypto

(06:11) The infrastructure dilemma: centralised tools in a decentralised world

(08:57) Public perception of crypto and Web3: how did it go so wrong?

(12:11) The influence of regulation on decentralised innovation

(15:08) Corporate involvement in Web3: help or hijack?

(17:52) NFTs beyond the hype: is there real utility?

(20:50) How value is perceived in the digital asset space

(23:07) The rise and fall of Steemit as a cautionary tale

(28:08) The ethical dilemma at the heart of centralisation vs decentralisation

(30:29) Can the decentralised space self-regulate?

(33:18) Government control and the decentralised response

(37:50) The real barriers to mass adoption

(40:12) A divided landscape: where decentralisation goes from here

(42:55) A vision for what true decentralisation could look like

Key takeaways:

• Centralised Chokepoints in Web3: While blockchain technology was engineered to eliminate intermediaries, the modern crypto ecosystem heavily relies on centralised entities like major exchanges and stablecoin issuers.

• The Mutation of Decentralisation: The foundational philosophy of cryptography has been largely overshadowed by an attention economy driven by speculation, wealth extraction, and gambling.

• Regulatory Arbitrage of Global Tech Platforms: Platforms that prioritise compliance often sacrifice core decentralised principles, leaving pure peer-to-peer protocols operating in a vulnerable grey market facing aggressive regulatory headwinds.

• Resurgence and Value of True Self-Custody: Managing your own cryptographic keys and routing transactions without third-party oversight offers genuine security that centralised alternatives cannot guarantee.

If this episode got you thinking, check out:

The Internet: A Corporate Hijacking of Digital Freedom?

https://pod.link/1825601333/episode/MmIzMDA0ZTQtMDA1Ny00OTE1LTkyY2QtNjhhM2NlMzJmODdh

Truly Disappearing: Powering Our Own Perpetual Surveillance?

https://pod.link/1825601333/episode/ZGMxOTZlZTMtMTM4Yi00MmI4LWI0YTgtNzU3YjE5N2Q3Y2Nl

Child Safety: Private Platforms Full of Private Predators?

https://pod.link/1825601333/episode/M2U3MWEyMGEtM2I3NC00ZjUxLTk0YzItYTY3NDhmZjUwNTBm

Guest links – Joseph Kennedy

Website: http://www.alephium.org

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bigpepghost

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephkennedyuk/

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It’s a question that nags at anyone who’s ever felt a pang of nostalgia or a wave of digital fatigue: are we better or worse off because of our constant connection? Hosted by Gareth King, Ruined By The Internet? digs into that uneasy feeling, moving beyond simple headlines to explore how our online world actively moulds society, culture, and the texture of daily life. This isn’t about reviewing apps or gadgets; it’s about treating the digital realm as the pervasive environment it has become. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with leading thinkers and researchers from around the world, dissecting the real evidence behind our shared anxieties and hopes. You’ll hear nuanced discussions that ask whether the casualties we often blame on technology are inevitable, or if we’re simply misdiagnosing deeper societal shifts. This podcast provides a space for considered reflection, offering listeners a clearer lens through which to view their own place in a world that is, for better or worse, thoroughly wired.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 30

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Ruined By The Internet? | Uncovering the human cost of our digital world
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