Bitcoin: not so decentralised as we think / expect?

Is Bitcoin less decentralised as we think?

1. Bitcoin core developers

There are around 14.5K nodes. These nodes ‘act’ in accordance with the software known as ‘Bitcoin Core’. The software is written by and controlled by the ‘Bitcoin Core Developers’. Therefore the nodes act in accordance with what the developers impose.

But who are these developers?

“In essence, there is no single individual or company that governs the development of the Bitcoin project. Instead, individuals or teams across the globe propose or initiate upgrades, which are subsequently peer-reviewed by hundreds of developers who are actively working on the Bitcoin project. The outcome of these reviews determines whether the implementations are accepted or rejected.”

(source: https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/article/who-are-bitcoin-cores-developers)

Is this as decentralised as we want it to be?

If not, is it even possible to make this even more decentralised?

And, as I understand it, there are other software clients in addition to Bitcoin Core, but these clients don’t have the same influence as Bitcoin Core or aren’t as used as much compared to Bitcoin Core.

​

(source: coin.dance/nodes)

1. Mining

As I understand it, it’s not profitable anymore to mine BTC on yourself. The mining is now done by ‘mining farms’. The Bitcoin hashrate has become highly centralized, as the following figure shows:

​

​

(source: https://bitcoinist.com/data-shows-50-of-bitcoin-hashrate-controlled-by-two-mining-pools/)

The numbers are a bit outdated (28th of January), but you get the point.

​

Is this to be considered a problem? Does this make Bitcoin less decentralised in your point of view?

​

Curious to know your opinions. I’m definitely not an expert like some guys here, but trying to learn. So keep it friendly ????