BigchainDB, a scalable blockchain database, has announced the launch of the Interplanetary Database (IPDB) – an internet-scale blockchain database for the world.
“Blockchain technology is enabling a decentralized world computer. We are building IPDB to make sure that world computer is accessible to everyone,” said Greg McMullen, Director of the IPDB Foundation. “Eventually, IPDB will operate as a completely decentralized organization. The organization will run as software.”
IPDB is a blockchain database that offers decentralized control, immutability and the creation and trading of digital assets. In addition, it will have universal accessibility, meaning anyone in the world will be able to use it.
IPDB will be overseen by the not-for-profit IPDB Foundation and relies on “caretaker” organizations around the world, who share responsibility for managing the network and governing the foundation. So far, 13 organizations have been confirmed as founding caretakers, including the Internet Archive, IPFS (Protocol Labs), Blockstack, ConsenSys, OpenMedia, Eris Industries, Tendermint and UnMonastery. More caretakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
“We are planning for a serverless world,” said Trent McConaghy, CTO of BigchainDB, whose technology powers IPDB. “IPDB’s focus on governance and transparency combined with BigchainDB’s technology offers a pragmatic approach for decentralization today, with a plan for even greater decentralization in the future.”
Bigchaindb says that at least half of the caretakers will be not-for-profit organizations, and to avert re-centralization fewer than half will be based in any one country. All of the caretakers share a commitment to building an open, decentralized internet.
