Adopting a decentralized lifestyle

Bitcoin (BTC) and other cryptocurrencies, such as Ether (ETH), all share a common purpose: to decentralize the way people bank and to open up the underfunded and underbanked world to its own financial independence.

Decentralization and accessibility are among the most fundamental motivations in the crypto sphere. Crypto and blockchain weren't created for one specific group of people but for an inclusive group of individuals. Crypto is simply a bonus, one advantage of moving away from the centralized world, but it isn't a necessity.

It's probably worth starting with small, accessible but useful ways to keep alive the idea that decentralization is achievable and not just a dream, especially within the limits that were proposed many years ago. So here are five ideas you might build into your life, starting with small, steady steps toward living a more decentralized life.

Make responsible choices

Remember that respect for your colleagues and the members of your community is essential, so that all members are on the same level and their responsibilities are just as important as everyone else's.

To explain further, a 1999 report titled “Decentralization: A Sampling Of Definitions” states that when responsibilities can be assigned in a way that reflects that every task is as important as the others, people feel more respected, all based on a “horizontally integrated management system.”

Of course, the timeless “treat others the way you want to be treated” undoubtedly applies. Workers and friends around the world could be better placed to help in various ways if this thinking were more widely accepted.

Without building blockchain technology on the idea of horizontal delegation, the founders of this industry wouldn't have taken the steps they did. Everyone has the right to be respected. So why not start with your peers and colleagues?

Go permissionless

Although using a VPN or a pseudonym is fairly well-worn advice, you can build a lifestyle without granting anyone permission to track your every move.

Day by day, it may seem that the level of control over your private life is shrinking. There are ways to stay in control of data sharing and keep your personal information out of as many hands as possible. When you're asked whether you'll pay with cash or credit, cash is the preferred option. Websites often use cookies more frequently and ask for more information and data that used to be unnecessary, such as gender and birthday.

By not accepting cookies and by clearing your cache, you can keep your data private, and you can also turn off your phone's mobile data when you aren't using it for long periods. These measures may seem harmless and obvious, but they're a great way to build habits that promote decentralization.

Donate to charities through NFTs or directly to people in need

The NFT boom has seen artists and newcomers earn money and fame by auctioning their art. Charities have started to take advantage of this too.

To raise money to help animals, Australia-based Animal Welfare Generation One by Tokens for Humanity began auctioning non-fungible tokens (NFTs) of animals, such as Sally Seal or High-roller Roland, for an Australian wildlife organization. Another platform, Spring, hosted by We Trust, features a variety of causes where people can donate using ETH and help a range of organizations that otherwise couldn't raise the funds they need. Finally, NFT for Good on the Binance Smart Chain allows direct donations and even lets you post your own NFTs, so that the auction proceeds can go straight to the organization.

Related: Is a new decentralized internet, or Web 3.0, possible?

Alternatively, it's much simpler and more direct to put money or aid into the hands of the people who need it, through peer-to-peer crypto technology or directly through cash or other money transfer apps. This takes minimal effort on your part and cuts out every intermediary completely.

Getting involved locally

Many cities make it a priority to become a destination for the international world while taking into account their citizens' quality of life. As the 1999 report also notes, "Decentralization of governance could be an effective means of achieving critical goals of the sustainable human development vision: improving access to services, credit, employment, health and education, eradicating poverty, achieving greater socioeconomic equality, especially between men and women, and protecting the environment.” So getting involved locally can help temper the growth of the international hubs popping up around the world.

By understanding and using blockchain technology, as well as by voting locally, there's a good chance of avoiding a globalized urban landscape. By volunteering in local sectors such as hospitals, donation centers and school programs, you can contribute directly to the idea of preserving the character of society at the local level.

Another suggestion could be to start your own blockchain-based record-keeping chain that tracks the history and culture of your town, making further use of the technology available.

Support platforms that promote decentralization

The most useful tool in growing the decentralization market is to join a borderless company that ideally runs on blockchain technology. Asked how people can break down the barriers of the centralized world we live in, Elena Sinelnikova, co-founder of CryptoChicks, told Cointelegraph:

My advice is to start looking in this direction. Do your research and think for yourself. The stigma surrounding blockchain technology is born out of the fear of those parties who are afraid of losing their power.

Sinelnikova recently launched Metis, a platform for people and businesses looking to use blockchain technology without prior experience, making the technology easy to use for newcomers to the industry, because

blockchain technology really is a technology for the people

Related: Trust is still essential in the trustless world of crypto

Being pro-people, supporting people and, ultimately, making sure people live equal lives in our communities is easily achievable on the blockchain, but also in everyday life.
The impact of helping a local community and treating people with the same respect is crucial as we move into a seemingly centralized and globalized world. But following even just one of these tips could help perpetuate the idea that, well, maybe decentralization isn't so bad after all.