“Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size do you?” — Yoda, Jedi Master

Lets start with a primer in power.

Whoever controls the monopoly on tech controls the monopoly on power. If there is a current power system in place, front run it by tech standards and you have ultimately put yourself up to defeat it ; making a power play in your own authority in the process.

Kingdoms monopolized power over serfs by giving their knighted armies the ‘tech’ of armory, iron weapons, and mounted horses.

This was long standing until the “tech” of muskets and cannons were introduced and thus one monopoly was broken, while another was created.

As civilizations evolved, so did the tech that introduced power and control to establish which peoples or kingdoms would sit atop monopolized totem poles.

So with the evolution in civilizations, so came the evolution in power, in large parts thanks to the accreditation given to upgrading in tech measures of each ruling monopoly.

In these regards we find four key components we should recognize about “tech” as it relates to man, to civilizations, and ultimately to the competition of these civilizations.

“Tech” is merely theorized. It is nothing more than the sum of techniques , methods , and processes which are used productively towards the accomplishment of a particular objective.

Mankind’s greatest strength to keep us at the top of the evolutionary foodchain has been our ability to adapt. Likewise, a “tech” that is designed to be adaptive gains frontrunner status in evolutionary standards to remain a lead in both creative and power measures.

This “tech” frontrunner status spreads across all fields, industries, and civilizations: From war, to modern digitized technology, to finance, to crafts and trades, even to linguistics.

“Tech” that is not suited to adapt easily ultimately has the potential to lose in power plays, at least in potential medium time frames. Decred on-chain analyst Checkmate has referred to this as a “calcifying” of sorts.

Tech “Roots”

Scanning over the forrested ecosystem that has comprised digital cryptocurrencies to date, we undoubtedly find Bitcoin standing tallest amidst the rooted topiary saplings of coins.

Due to this we shall view the tech of Bitcoin as the ‘Oak’ of digital currency. It is old, it is wise, and it is strong. It is battle scarred, has endured many seasons of changing financial weather, and it has been able to root itself deep within the ground of the current changing financial world.

Just as the oak is viewed as the grandfather of the forest, likewise Bitcoin is correspondingly the grandfather of our current digital currency backwoods. It provides a canopied and veiled shade over the rest of the currencies in our forest, and in succession they are also able to draw energy from Bitcoin’s very own life giving roots which have strengthened over the years.

View it this way: Bitcoin as an ‘Oak tree’ made the soil of the current market immensely fertile for next gen protocols through its organic matter adding value to the blocksphere soil. Likewise, through world financial crisis, Bitcoins roots absorbed the underground water and prevented the soil of the current market from drying up.

The soil was prepared for new trees(new protocols/new tech)to take root. They have done just that, having Bitcoin to thank.

The thing about oak trees however, is that despite their immense size and strength, they do have their drawbacks. Its actually a catch 22. Their immense size, despite being their strength, is also their weakness. Oaks out in a live forest are usually some of the most susceptible organisms prone to lighting strikes simply due to their large targeting size. Lets assume that lighting strikes represent blockchain attacks.

Contuitively the older that an oak gets, the more its strength begins to erode, “calcifying” in the process, if you will. While many strong oaks can withstand tornadic supercell type winds , others that have calcified, cannot. Rooted in an unmoveable position for decades, paired with their immense sizing, they are simply unable to ‘adapt’ to the winds of change or attack. Again, their strong roots and size, when calcified, become their penchant and vulnerability.

Remember what was stated in our earlier primer on power, specifically with tech? The greatest strength one must retain is the ability to adapt. Lose the ability to adapt , lose the mid to long term frontrunner status. Humanity can attest to this. As can civilizations and kingdoms. Modern tech too, including that of blockchains.

Now lets assert that in this particular forest where the Bitcoin oaks have taken root, that their lies a small thicket of bamboo. The bamboo’s culms are dense and strong, yet the inner ‘tech’ biomass are flexible and elastic. As a result, this small thicket of bamboo is extremely resilient and can resist breaking when placed under immense stress. It’s rate of biomass generation is unsurpassed by most plants, and its versatility outmatches most tree species. Essentially, its greatest known characteristics are its exact abilities to ‘adapt’.

Lets assume that the bamboo represents Decred.

Decred is rooted , yet flexible : Decred has some of the strongest fundamentals amongst current protocols. It is rooted in a strong competitive POW mining structure paired with a solvent POS governance system. It is self funded, ever adding to its own funding daily, hourly, every 5 minutes. On top of this its greatest strength in its protocol is its ability to adapt and operate ‘on the fly’, as directed and driven by its soveriegn voting and ticket holding stakers.

Decred has some of the strongest fundamentals amongst current protocols. It is rooted in a strong competitive POW mining structure paired with a solvent POS governance system. It is self funded, ever adding to its own funding daily, hourly, every 5 minutes. On top of this its greatest strength in its protocol is its ability to adapt and operate ‘on the fly’, as directed and driven by its soveriegn voting and ticket holding stakers. What looks weak is strong : Bamboo may not look impressive at first glance. However it endures harsh winters and vapid summers unlike any other plant. It can endure the strongest of winds thanks to its adaptability and many times over is the only plant standing at the end of severe typhoons. Likewise, Decred is not currently a “Top 10” MarketCap project nor does it run on the hype that many others seem to. There is no flash or hubris to it. However, recent studies done by Checkmate and brought to light by ReadySetCrypto reveal that the POW/POS hybrid protocol that Decred runs on is actually stronger and more expensive to attack than Ethereum and even Bitcoin.

Bamboo may not look impressive at first glance. However it endures harsh winters and vapid summers unlike any other plant. It can endure the strongest of winds thanks to its adaptability and many times over is the only plant standing at the end of severe typhoons. Likewise, Decred is not currently a “Top 10” MarketCap project nor does it run on the hype that many others seem to. There is no flash or hubris to it. However, recent studies done by Checkmate and brought to light by ReadySetCrypto reveal that the POW/POS hybrid protocol that Decred runs on is actually stronger and more expensive to attack than Ethereum and even Bitcoin. Continuous growth : Bamboo , at times, is one of the fastest growing plants on earth. At other times, it grows simply as it feels is needed. Part of Decred’s lack of hubris and hype lies in the fact that in their work, the devs of Decred practice an ancient artform known as Kaizen, which translates into “humble continuous growth”. They simply grind away, throughout any certain time frame, designing and adapting the tech of Decred into a ever growing protocol that looks towards the future. There is no announcement of what ‘it will one day be’, rather announcements of ‘what we are currently implementing’.

Bamboo , at times, is one of the fastest growing plants on earth. At other times, it grows simply as it feels is needed. Part of Decred’s lack of hubris and hype lies in the fact that in their work, the devs of Decred practice an ancient artform known as Kaizen, which translates into “humble continuous growth”. They simply grind away, throughout any certain time frame, designing and adapting the tech of Decred into a ever growing protocol that looks towards the future. There is no announcement of what ‘it will one day be’, rather announcements of ‘what we are currently implementing’. Wisdom in emptiness : Rather than the fortified interior of an oak, bamboo is hollow on the inside, giving it it’s adaptable qualities. Likewise, rather than a centralized pack of governing devs leading a protocol that faces possibility of becoming indurated by centralized motives, Decred’s governance system gives its protocol the ability to shift as needed via community say. The hierarchy empties itself so that governance becomes more decentralized.

As we currently watch the strong winds of change in relation to market, politics, finance, and the world sphere drastically unfold before our eyes, we thus find their squall taking effect on the current crypto biospheres. Many blockchains will not fare well during each blustery storm that comes against their newly developed protocols. Bitcoin, even in its rooted strength, has had to toil pain stakingly to get to its current level of rooted life.

Decred’s protocol, in it’s adaptable strength, is graciously taking its own root to align itself as a SOV medium for decades upon decades to come.

With Decred, its a long game . With a long game comes many seasons. with many seasons comes many growing pains. With each growing pain comes lessons to learn. With each lesson comes a new opportunity for tech to adapt.

Decred is in prime position.

Disclaimer: The preceding is not intended as investment advice but rather blockchain philosophy and monetary theory.

This article is open source, uncopyrighted, free to use for public domain as anyone may see fit. Attribution, although appreciated, is not required.