Blocktech launches crowdfunding for Alexandria

Blocktech, a San Diego-based blockchain start-up, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for Alexandria, a decentralized, open-source, peer-to-peer "library" for all types of media.

Alexandria enables its users to upload almost types of media, including videos, music, podcasts, books and 3D-printable objects, using blockchain technology over a global and uncensorable network of computers.

"You can compare Alexandria to YouTube or Soundcloud, but by making use of various peer-to-peer networking technologies, the platform relies on no servers. Users can self-publish anything they'd like, and they - only they - have complete control of how their works are published", Speaking to CoinTelegraph, Blocktech CEO Devon Read explained.

Alexandria has an edge over regular torrent sites, as it lacks central servers, which means that the service cannot be shut down or blocked, as has happened with various torrent sites repeatedly.

"The goal here was basically to give everyone on the planet the right to free speech. Not by passing laws which can be repealed, watered down or just ignored, but by baking it into the Internet itself. With Alexandria, a citizen can share cell-phone video of police brutality, a whistle-blower can release evidence of corruption, a wiz kid can share her innovative idea for a solution to global warming, a war widow in Syria can share her independent documentary about life in a warzone and use its proceeds to help rebuild her village, and Cody Wilson can share his 3D printable fire arms, and no one can censor them", Read said.

While Alexandria accepts most types of payments in bitcoin, the actual software is created on top of Florincoin, an altcoin that was started in 2013. Florincoin is similar to Bitcoin, but the ability to attach 528 bytes of information to each transaction, which it uses to store magnet links, along with additional data on the Florincoin blockchain. This implies that content uploaders need to possess some florincoin for paying mining fees, which can be purchased with bitcoin in the Alexandria app itself.