In Matrix the conversations really are decentralised, not federated, over the servers - they are replicated over the nodes just as you would with git or a blockchain. Meanwhile we’re actively working on running servers clientside, at which point it becomes fully p2p as well as decentralised if you want that.
> we’re actively working on running servers clientside, at which point it becomes fully p2p as well as decentralised if you want that.
Where can I read more about this?
Right, I meant federated in that each user is expected to connect to a home server, not to "the network". Running the server locally on the user's device definitely changes the picture.
Federation is a form of decentralization.
Also you can host a completely isolated matrix server, that does not connect to "the Matrix network"
For example, every client could choose to run its own server to have a perfectly decentralized network. Federation is a feature that allows for greater than 1:1 mapping between clients and servers.
No, decentralization is invented alongside the blockchain and nothing without a blockchain is decentralized. :)
No, you don't need a blockchain for decentralization. Also, you don't need a blockchain[0].