ARK Invest and Glassnode map the decentralization spectrum across Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana

ARK Invest and Glassnode have jointly released a framework examining how Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana balance decentralization against other network priorities. The report, titled "The Decentralization Spectrum: Design Tradeoffs In Digital Assets," evaluates the three blockchains across four design features and six measurable dimensions of decentralization. The analysis underscores a core insight: these networks make different architectural choices, each with distinct tradeoffs that shape how decentralized they actually are in practice.

The research carries implications beyond pure technical interest. By mapping these tradeoff patterns, the report can inform both regulatory thinking around what decentralization means and investment decisions about which networks align with different risk and governance preferences.

• ARK and Glassnode measure decentralization across four design features and six dimensions, comparing Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana directly rather than treating each as equally decentralized by default.
• The framework highlights that decentralization is not binary but exists on a spectrum shaped by deliberate tradeoffs, with regulatory and investment consequences depending on where each network lands.