When we talk about centralization, we are generally talking about power dynamics in decision-making processes. Historically, most systems have been very centralized, in that a king or a president or a CEO have had most if not all decision-making authority. One of the most incredible innovations of the blockchain, is its ability in allowing decentralized systems to be built from the bottom-up. Without this kind of technology, this would have previously been impossible. To develop greater understanding, let's examine and compare existing centralized structures to the emerging decentralized systems that aim to replace them.