What does decentralization actually mean—and why do so many people misunderstand it?
My guest is Roberto Capodieci, a technology entrepreneur and innovator with more than 40 years of experience spanning software, blockchain, distributed systems, and emerging technologies.
In this conversation, we explore questions such as:
- What problem is decentralization trying to solve?
- How does blockchain differ from the way traditional systems establish trust?
- What is Web3, and how does it differ from today's internet?
- Where does artificial intelligence fit into a decentralized future?
- Which ideas are grounded in practical technology, and which remain largely hype?
Drawing on decades of experience, Roberto shares his perspective on how these technologies are evolving, the challenges they face, and how they may influence the future of commerce, governance, and digital identity.
Whether you're new to blockchain or have been following it for years, this conversation is less about predicting the future and more about understanding the systems being built—and the assumptions behind them.
This episode helps you think clearly in a noisy world, cut through misinformation, and find the solutions as applied to Technology, AI, and Power.
About the Host
Daniel Stih is an aerospace engineer, software engineer, indoor environmental consultant, and author of 12 books. For more than 20 years, he has investigated complex problems spanning engineering, technology, the built environment, and human decision-making. His work explores how evidence, assumptions, and systems shape the conclusions we draw—and whether we're solving the right problem. Learn more about his approach in Why I Think This Way.
Show Notes
Roberto Capodieci
Links: https://capodieci.link
Website: https://capodieci.medium.com
Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/rc10
X.com - capodieci https://x.com/capodieci
Breaking Banks Europe: European Unicorns, Startups, Founders, Regulators and Leaders innovating the rapidly evolving Fintech scene. The world’s well-known hosts and influencers in fintech.
https://open.spotify.com/show/1IVQyJt4u3yuESxwlxHmjH
UnBlockChain: Talks and interviews about decentralization, blockchain, old and new technologies. https://open.spotify.com/show/2a7RnsXaFEDIBWi68fLY2t
Decentralized Alternatives (per Roberto Capodieci's article)
Here’s a list of decentralized alternatives to mainstream social media services. These platforms offer greater privacy, resistance to censorship, and user control over content and data. For the full list and to read the article by Roberto Capodieci, Silencing Dissent: How Censorship and Centralization Threaten Free Expression, click: https://capodieci.medium.com/silencing-dissent-how-censorship-and-centralization-threaten-free-expression-8024ab14776c
Diaspora (Alternative to Facebook)
A decentralized social network where users have control over their data, spread across independently operated servers called “pods.” Privacy-focused, no advertisements, community-driven. https://diasporafoundation.org
PeerTube (Alternative to YouTube)
A decentralized video hosting network based on ActivityPub, allowing communities to host and share videos without central control. No ads, community moderation, federated servers.https://joinpeertube.org
Bluesky (Alternative to Twitter/X)
A decentralized social media platform developed by Twitter’s founder, Jack Dorsey, focusing on user autonomy and protocol-based interaction. Fully decentralized, no single entity control, open standards. https://bsky.app
Beaker Browser (Alternative to Google Chrome)
A peer-to-peer web browser that allows users to create and host websites directly from their devices without needing traditional web servers. Decentralized hosting, user control over content, no central servers. https://beakerbrowser.com
Session (Alternative to WhatsApp/Telegram)
A decentralized messaging app focusing on privacy and anonymity, using onion routing to keep messages secure and untraceable. End-to-end encryption, no phone numbers needed, metadata-resistant.https://getsession.org