Decentralization
Decentralization is the spreading of control across many independent participants so that no single entity can dictate outcomes.
In depth
It exists on a spectrum: how many nodes, how many miners or validators, how many developers, how concentrated the token supply. A network can be technically distributed yet effectively controlled by a few. Evaluating a project means asking who could censor, halt or change it.
Why it matters
The degree of decentralization determines how censorship-resistant and trustworthy a network really is.