Part 10/17:
The discussion on governance reveals that Bitcoin’s early development was heavily influenced by Satoshi’s individual decisions, often made unilaterally—such as code changes and updates made without broad consensus.
Over time, the community shifted toward a more decentralized model, emphasizing code consensus and open source development. Notable figures like Vladimir Van der Laan and Themos contributed to the philosophical shift, advocating for code-based authority rather than individual leadership.
The transition from a benevolent dictator model to a community-driven governance exemplifies Bitcoin’s fundamental challenge: balancing decentralization with effective development.