- Bittensor says core governance remains centralized as it targets decentralization.
- Network cites 128 subnet teams and open participation as existing strengths.
- Planned upgrades aim to expand validator roles and market-based governance.
Bittensor’s leadership has laid out a detailed explanation of the network’s current governance structure, stating that while the protocol has achieved decentralization in ownership and participation, key decisions regarding its development and direction remain based within a small group of core contributors. The statement also outlined a roadmap aimed at transitioning the network toward a more decentralized model over the next 18 months.
The discussion centered on the challenge of balancing fast development in artificial intelligence with the long-term goal of creating a decentralized infrastructure. According to Bittensor’s co-founder, the network was designed to combine AI innovation with blockchain-based incentives, but its leadership believes that maintaining centralized decision-making has been necessary during the project’s formative stages.
Bittensor Current Governance Structure
The co-founder Const acknowledged that Bittensor does not currently operate as a fully decentralized protocol in the same way as Bitcoin. While the underlying blockchain infrastructure is built using Substrate, a framework developed within the Polkadot ecosystem that supports blockchain customization and upgrades, major protocol decisions continue to be directed by a small leadership group.
Bittensor said this approach has allowed the network to introduce a series of major changes and technical upgrades over time. The leadership argued that quick iteration was prioritized over decentralized governance to support development in the fast-moving AI sector.
At the same time, the founder said the project would expand communication efforts for token holders who may not have the technical background to evaluate protocol updates directly. Future development proposals are expected to be accompanied by explanatory materials aimed at a broader audience.
Areas Already Decentralized
The co-founder highlighted several areas where Bittensor considers itself decentralized. These include token distribution, network participation, and network growth.
Bittensor said the network was not pre-mined and has operated for more than five years while distributing ownership among participants. The ecosystem currently includes 128 subnet teams, multiple validator groups, developers, miners, and independent contributors.
The leadership also emphasized that users do not require permission to build, validate, or participate in the network. Access to the platform’s AI-related infrastructure remains open to participants without centralized approval requirements.
Several planned upgrades were identified as necessary steps before governance can be fully decentralized. These include expanding validator participation, introducing borrowing mechanisms for liquidity pools, implementing conviction-based rights for alpha-token holders, and refining emission allocation systems through updates to TaoFlow and related mechanisms.
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