What is the difference between BTC and Bitcoin Cash decentralization approaches?

Decentralization is a core principle for both Bitcoin (BTC) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH), rooted in Satoshi Nakamoto's vision of open-source software and community participation. However, the two cryptocurrencies exhibit nuanced differences in their approaches to decentralization.

For BTC, the decentralization narrative took a distinctive turn during the block size wars. Some developers and community members opposed a block size increase, arguing for a small block size to enable regular users to sustain full nodes independently. The emphasis was on users serving as a check on miners. This perspective persists in BTC, advocating for regular users to download the blockchain and run full nodes, although this is not widely adopted in practice.

In contrast, Bitcoin Cash proponents view decentralization differently. They don't mandate regular users to download the entire blockchain, recognizing the impracticality of such an approach. There is no insistence that regular users oversee miners due to the impossibility of such a task. Instead, the Bitcoin Cash community actively promotes decentralization through practical means.

Multiple node implementations support various infrastructure and projects and miners have the flexibility to choose from alternative clients, enhancing overall network decentralization. Bitcoin Cash proponents recognize that a large user base and network effect will naturally result in a large network of full nodes.

Bitcoin Cash embraces a decentralized problem-solving approach, encouraging community members to take initiative rather than relying on top-down development. There is no central development team or official foundation responsible for fund allocation. Anyone can contribute by presenting ideas, seeking feedback, engaging in discussions, and collectively working towards positive changes. This decentralized model ensures an active role for the community in shaping Bitcoin Cash's development, acting as a robust filter against individual or group control, and fostering a healthy, community-driven evolution.

Learn more in our deep dive into the differences between BTC and Bitcoin Cash.