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---
title: "Post 1 with its UNIQUE title" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
description: "The UNIQUE description for Post 1." # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
date: 2018-10-17T14:40:00-05:00
updated: 2019-04-11T20:33:00-05:00 # Comment-out this line with a # if content is unchanged
draft: false # Make it "true" if you don't want Zola to "publish" yet
template: blogPage.html
taxonomies:
categories:
- Community
tags: [threefold_grid, community, farming, interview, update]
extra:
subtitle: "The UNIQUE Post 1 subtitle" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
author: "Your name goes here"
authorImg: /images/people/hannah_cordes.jpg
category: "Engineering"
imgPath: images/threefold_blog2.png
date: 2018-10-17T14:40:00-05:00
---
Your opening text goes here.
## In-article heading --- it's an H2 because your title is the H1
And after another paragraph or two or three, you may want to add a subheading, which would be an H3, so it would be like the following.
### Subheading (H3)
Text here.
And here are some examples of how to use the `imgc` shortcode in `/templates/shortcodes`:
Closing text. That ends Post 1!

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title: "Post 2 with its UNIQUE title" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
description: "The UNIQUE description for Post 2." # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
date: 2018-10-25T07:40:00-05:00
updated: 2020-06-13T13:10:00-05:00
draft: false # Make it "true" if you don't want Zola to "publish" yet
template: blogPage.html
taxonomies:
categories: ["Use Cases"]
tags: [threefold_grid, community, farming, interview, update]
extra:
subtitle: "The UNIQUE Post 2 subtitle" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
author: Your name goes here
authorImg: /images/people/hannah_cordes.jpg
category: "Engineering"
imgPath: images/threefold_blog2.png
date: 2018-10-17T14:40:00-05:00
---
Your opening text goes here.
## In-article heading --- it's an H2 because your title is the H1
And after another paragraph or two or three, you may want to add a subheading, which would be an H3, so it would be like the following.
### Subheading (H3)
Text here.
And here's an example of how to use the `imgc` shortcode in `/templates/shortcodes`:
Closing text. That ends Post 2!

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transparent: true
---

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---
title: "Post 3 with its UNIQUE title" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
description: "The UNIQUE description for Post 3." # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
date: 2019-01-19T03:25:00-06:00
updated: 2019-10-06T14:00:00-05:00 # Comment-out this line with a # if content is unchanged
draft: false # Make it "true" if you don't want Zola to "publish" yet
template: blogPage.html
taxonomies:
categories:
- Foundation
tags: [threefold_grid, community, farming, interview, update]
extra:
subtitle: "The UNIQUE Post 3 subtitle" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
author: Your name goes here
authorImg: /images/people/hannah_cordes.jpg
category: "Engineering"
imgPath: images/threefold_blog2.png
date: 2018-10-17T14:40:00-05:00
---
Your opening text goes here.
## In-article heading --- it's an H2 because your title is the H1
And after another paragraph or two or three, you may want to add a subheading, which would be an H3, so it would be like the following.
### Subheading (H3)
Text here.
And here is an example of how to use the `imgc` shortcode in `/templates/shortcodes`:
![Image](images/threefold-blog.png)
Closing text. That ends Post 3!

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---
title: "Post 4 with its UNIQUE title" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
description: "The UNIQUE description for Post 4." # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
date: 2019-03-02T10:00:00-06:00
updated: 2020-01-31T08:13:00-06:00 # Comment-out this line with a # if content is unchanged
template: blogPage.html
taxonomies:
categories:
- Foundation
tags: [threefold_grid, community, farming, interview, update]
extra:
subtitle: "The UNIQUE Post 4 subtitle" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
author: Your name goes here
authorImg: /images/people/hannah_cordes.jpg
category: "Engineering"
imgPath: images/threefold_blog2.png
date: 2018-10-17T14:40:00-05:00
---
Your opening text goes here.
## In-article heading --- it's an H2 because your title is the H1
And after another paragraph or two or three, you may want to add a subheading, which would be an H3, so it would be like the following.
### Subheading (H3)
Text here.
Maybe you want a code block to illustrate something. Here's one:
```js
/* =========
This is some simple JavaScript, just so
you can see how Zola handles a code block.
It doesn't **do** anything in Zola, of course.
Helpful on a dev blog, eh?
========= */
var i, j;
for (i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
j = i;
console.log(j);
}
/* =========
When run, the above would output:
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
========= */
```
Closing text. That ends Post 4!

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---
title: "Post 5 with its UNIQUE title" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
description: "The UNIQUE description for Post 5." # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
date: 2019-03-08T16:08:00-05:00 # This would be 10:08 PM (2208) UTC on March 8, 2019
updated: 2020-01-01T02:39:00-06:00 # Comment-out this line with a # if content is unchanged
draft: false # Make it "true" if you don't want Zola to "publish" yet
template: blogPage.html
taxonomies:
categories:
- Foundation
tags: [threefold_grid, community, farming, interview, update]
extra:
subtitle: "The UNIQUE Post 5 subtitle" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
author: Post Author
authorImg: /images/people/hannah_cordes.jpg
category: "Engineering"
imgPath: images/ourworld_mycellium.png
isFeatured: "true"
---
Your opening text goes here.
## In-article heading --- it's an H2 because your title is the H1
And after another paragraph or two or three, you may want to add a subheading, which would be an H3, so it would be like the following.
### Subheading (H3)
Text here.
Maybe you want a code block to illustrate something. Here's one:
```js
/* =========
This is some simple JavaScript, just so
you can see how Zola handles a code block.
It doesn't **do** anything in Zola, of course.
Helpful on a dev blog, eh?
========= */
var i, j;
for (i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
j = i;
console.log(j);
}
/* =========
When run, the above would output:
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
========= */
```
Closing text. That ends Post 5!

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transparent: true
---

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---
title: "Post 6 with its UNIQUE title" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
description: "The UNIQUE description for Post 6." # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
date: 2019-06-08T15:25:00-05:00 # This would be 8:25 PM (2025) UTC on June 8, 2019
updated: 2019-07-25T14:05:00-05:00 # Comment-out this line with a # if content is unchanged
draft: false # Make it "true" if you don't want Zola to "publish" yet
template: blogPage.html
taxonomies:
categories:
- Foundation
tags: [threefold_grid, community, farming, interview, update]
extra:
subtitle: "The UNIQUE Post 6 subtitle" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
author: Your name goes here
authorImg: /images/people/hannah_cordes.jpg
category: "Engineering"
imgPath: images/threefold_blog2.png
date: 2018-10-17T14:40:00-05:00
---
Your opening text goes here.
## In-article heading --- it's an H2 because your title is the H1
And after another paragraph or two or three, you may want to add a subheading, which would be an H3, so it would be like the following.
### Subheading (H3)
Text here.
Maybe you want a code block to illustrate something. Here's one:
```js
/* =========
This is some simple JavaScript, just so
you can see how Zola handles a code block.
It doesn't **do** anything in Zola, of course.
Helpful on a dev blog, eh?
========= */
var i, j;
for (i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
j = i;
console.log(j);
}
/* =========
When run, the above would output:
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
========= */
```
Closing text. That ends Post 6! One more to go in this starter set.

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---
title: "A Journey through the Decentralization and Blockchain Space – Part One: Dfinity" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
description: "This post is the first one in a series to explore fellow projects and their solutions with regards to what they share with ThreeFold but also where we differ. Follow me on my journey through the space. First up – Dfinity!" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
date: 2021-10-01
updated: 2021-10-01 # Comment-out this line with a # if content is unchanged
draft: false # Make it "true" if you don't want Zola to "publish" yet
template: blogPage.html
taxonomies:
categories: [foundation]
tags: [threefold_grid, blockchain, technology]
extra:
subtitle: "" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
author: Hannah Cordes
authorImg: /images/people/hannah_cordes.jpg
imgPath: images/blog/project_comparison_1_dfinity.png
---
Whether you’re new to ThreeFold or have been around for a while, the decentralization and blockchain space can often be quite elusive and opaque with regards to what certain projects have to offer. Very clear, however, is the current market cap for aggregated decentralized compute and storage projects which exceeds 50 billion USD. Therefore, we decided to shed some light on the space and to show you how our solutions compare to those of other projects.
<br/>
This post is the first one in a series to explore fellow projects and their solutions with regards to what they share with ThreeFold but also where we differ. Follow me on my journey through the decentralization and blockchain space to get a better understanding of where we are within the space. First up: [Dfinity](https://forum.threefold.io/t/a-journey-through-the-decentralization-and-blockchain-space-part-one-dfinity/1316)!
## The DFINITY Foundation & how it compares to ThreeFold
The [DFINITY Foundation](https://dfinity.org/foundation) is a not-for-profit organization, founded in October 2016 by Dominic Williams and headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland. With a team of more than 200 people, Dfinity is developing the technology for the Internet Computer blockchain. It seeks to free the Internet from big tech and monopolization and return to the Internet’s open roots by offering a public blockchain on which systems and dApps can be rebuilt in a secure and scalable way.
<br/>
As the term “rebuild” already indicates, Dfinity’s own SDK has to be used to build on their platform, whereas ThreeFold is highly compatible with industry standards tools and protocols (e.g. Linux-based workloads, S3, Docker containers, Kubernetes). This allows for existing applications to be easily migrated onto the [ThreeFold Grid](https://threefold.io/grid), while also offering unparalleled levels of [security](https://library.threefold.me/info/threefold#/tfgrid/threefold__usp_secure?id=network-security), privacy and decentralization. Moreover, Dfinity’s architecture is blockchain-based and offers a platform for dApps, while ThreeFold is based on its own operating system, [Zero-OS](https://threefold.io/tech/zero-os), and is a platform for P2P network, storage and compute. The ThreeFold Grid uses a blockchain internally only where it is truly needed while also offering the missing capacity layer which enables every blockchain to become [truly decentralized](https://threefold.io/blog/post/decentralize_blockchain/).
<br/>
Another difference is that Dfinity is more about creating an ecosystem of independent data centers, whereas ThreeFold turns the [data center model](https://threefold.io/blog/post/threefold_cloud_vs_centralized_providers_like_aws_azure/) upside down by enabling anyone to become a [node](https://shop.threefold.tech/index.php?route=common/home) of the system. Even non-technical people can [join the network](https://threefold.io/farm) with plug-and-play offerings through ThreeFold’s certified hardware partners. The ThreeFold Grid is therefore [more inclusive](https://www.threefold.io/blog/post/tf_grid_peoples_internet/) and allows individuals to participate as well, which enables ThreeFold to scale an unlimited number of nodes, whereas Dfinity currently uses a limited set of existing data centers. The question remains of whether they will incentivise an easier way into their system. ThreeFold’s model is not only infinitely scalable but also can act as the ideal substrate for edge computing which is difficult for Dfinity to achieve with its more centralized structure. Also, Threefold’s self-driving and self-healing [technology](https://threefold.io/tech) is unique in the space and removes the pain of having to monitor and maintain the nodes.
<br/>
Furthermore, ThreeFold’s Zero-OS was created from scratch and its low-level design allows it to achieve unparalleled levels of [security](https://forum.threefold.io/t/security-privacy-on-the-threefold-grid-and-second-best-alternatives-out-there-today/1290) and decentralization. With VMs, Kubernetes, a next-generation container environment, and the [Quantum Safe File System](https://threefold.io/tech/zdbfs), ThreeFold’s offering is much more comprehensive than Dfinity’s canister offering. A potential collaboration, however, could be beneficial for Dfinity. By hosting their offerings on the ThreeFold Grid, Dfinity could benefit from ThreeFold’s fully decentralized and autonomous infrastructure.
## Conclusion
Both, Dfinity and ThreeFold, share the same ambition to [revolutionize the Internet](https://tgdaily.com/web/6-dfinity-threefold-are-leading-an-internet-decentralization-revolution/). While both provide a platform for dApps to be built upon, ThreeFold has a much more comprehensive and compatible stack. Therefore, Dfinity could benefit from moving to the ThreeFold Grid as an underlying [infrastructure](https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2020/06/20/largest-distributed-peer-to-peer-grid-on-the-planet-laying-foundation-for-a-decentralized-internet/), rather than depending on their more centralized data center structure. In addition to that, their data center operators could also choose to [become farmers](https://threefold.io/farm) on the ThreeFold Grid, while continuing to host Dfinity – without having to worry about system administration and maintenance as ThreeFold’s technology is fully self-healing. In that way they could finally run on a fully decentralized, [energy-efficient](https://new.threefold.io/blog/post/for_our_planet/), and self-healing infrastructure – and as Dfinity [stated](https://dfinity.org/foundation), they’re “committed to connecting those who believe the same”, so we hope to find the spirit of decentralization and collaboration in our future engagements.
<br/>
Thanks for joining me on this journey throughout the decentralization and blockchain space. Stay tuned for the next stop: [Akash](https://threefold.io/blog/post/project_comparison_2_akash/)!

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---
title: "Building a New Internet From the Ground Up – Part 3: Compute" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
description: "The ThreeFold Grid Peer-to-Peer Technology
excerpt: Part three of an approachable series on the inner workings of the ThreeFold Grid. This time, we're exploring compute." # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
date: 2021-10-04
updated: 2021-10-04 # Comment-out this line with a # if content is unchanged
draft: false # Make it "true" if you don't want Zola to "publish" yet
template: blogPage.html
taxonomies:
categories: [foundation]
tags: [foundation,farming,cloud]
extra:
subtitle: "" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
author: Scott Yeager
authorImg: /images/people/scott_yeager.jpg
imgPath: images/blog/building_a_new_internet_3.png
---
*Welcome back for another installment of our accessible series on ThreeFold Grid technology. We are working through the three major categories that make up cloud infrastructure: storage, compute, and network. This time, we'll be focusing on compute.*
## What is compute?
While [storage](https://threefold.io/blog/post/building_a_new_internet_from_the_ground_up_pt2/) and network are fairly intuitive concepts – where data lives and how it gets around – compute is about the more mysterious realm of data processing and ultimately computer programming. Don't worry though, you don't need any technical abilities to gain a deeper understanding of what's happening behind the scenes when we use apps or interact with web sites.
<br/>
As mentioned in the [first part](https://threefold.io/blog/post/an_intro_to_the_threefold_grid/) of this series, compute is basically what happens with data once it reaches its destination. Compute gives data relevance, by processing it according to the instructions provided by developers in their source code. When talking about what the [ThreeFold Grid](https://threefold.io/grid) offers in terms of compute, it's mostly about how the code that developers produce gets executed in order to provide the services we enjoy.
<br/>
With ThreeFold, this actually happens for the most part using the same tools and systems provided by traditional cloud services, meaning that it's highly compatible with existing cloud applications. What really makes the Grid different is that it's been designed to provide a level of efficiency and security that simply isn't possible without starting "from the ground up". Before we get into specifics of compute offerings built into ThreeFold's [Zero-OS](https://threefold.io/how-it-works/zero-os), let's briefly explore what computing is.
## Playing with zeroes and ones
Everything a computer's central processing unit does is based on a limited set of instructions that includes basic mathematical functions, logical operations, and ways to control the flow of a program. At their core, computers are really just automated adding machines that execute specified operations on whatever input they receive. It may be hard to believe that simple math creates all of the vibrant digital experience we enjoy, but at a certain low level, that's the truth.
<br/>
Take a messaging app as an example. Within a computer, all of the text, emojis, and images we see are represented by numbers. When we search for some text within a chat, matches are determined by checking if the numbers corresponding to the words we typed are equal to some numbers corresponding to words that appear in the chat history. This information is then converted into the list of results we see on screen.
<br/>
In this context, compute is mostly responsible for organizing all of our messages based on the individual or group we were talking with, the time that the message happened, and whether or not we've opened it yet. Typically, a messaging app stores data both on our local devices and on a back end in the cloud. Compute is also how the service decides to copy messages you sent on one device to other devices where you have the same app installed.
<br/>
Here is an important distinction about how the ThreeFold Grid operates. In a traditional cloud environment, it is impossible to know for sure what is happening on the backend, even if you are the one running the service. The administrative access retained by the cloud provider can be used for surveillance and tampering that can be very difficult or impossible to detect.
<br/>
Zero OS offers a unique assurance that no one can abuse the Grid in this way, because it operates autonomously with no facilities provided for human intervention. In order to utilize compute capacity on the Grid, individuals and organizations deploy their choice of several "primitives," or basic components, that provide an environment for code to be executed and create the magic we experience as online applications.
## ThreeFold Compute Primitives
Since we're getting a bit into the technical weeds here, we'll just take a brief look at each primitive and what makes it special.
### Zmachine
Zmachine is a lightweight virtual machine (VM) implementation that's been developed in a uniquely efficient way by ThreeFold. VMs are essentially computers within computers, allowing multiple operating systems to run on a single physical system. A common example is running the Windows operating system on a Mac that's already running MacOS.
<br/>
In the cloud world, virtual machines are a classic way to manage complex deployments with flexibility and resilience – by packaging different components into different VMs that can be run side by side and moved between different physical servers with ease. While VMs have been replaced in many cases with the new container paradigm, which we'll cover next, they are still widely used and provide a simpler solution than containers that's sufficient for many use cases.
### Flist
The [Flist](https://threefold.io/how-it-works/zflist) is a next generation container format which extends the industry standard Docker container concept in an efficient and secure way. It is supported directly at the operating system level on Zero OS, and in its latest version on ThreeFold Grid 3.0, provides a unique advantage over traditional containers via the use of mini virtual machines.
<br/>
Containers provide greater efficiency and flexibility than VMs, by sharing parts of the host operating system between containers rather than duplicating the full operating system for each component. This, however, means that containers typically come with less of an assurance that different workloads and their data remain isolated from each other. By employing mini VMs, the Flist concept provides better isolation than traditional container systems while retaining the advantages that containers offer over full VMs.
### Kubernetes
Containers usually represent small parts of a full solution, which are created, interconnected, and destroyed on an ongoing basis. Kubernetes is the industry standard container orchestration system, and it's used to manage many of the largest and most complex cloud deployments. Kubernetes solutions are defined through configuration files that specify the types of containers, how updates are handled, and the network architecture both between containers and with the outside world.
<br/>
Multiple physical servers or VMs are typically used for a Kubernetes "cluster" which provides redundancy and scalability. The ThreeFold Grid provides a lightweight Kubernetes VM that can be used to create clusters according to specific needs. Kubernetes users can, for the most part, simply bring their existing configuration files and recreate their deployments on a Grid based cluster seamlessly.
## Wrapping up
Taken together, the compute primitives offer a comprehensive alternative to existing cloud compute providers. Users of Docker, Kubernetes, and virtual machines can bring their deployments to the Grid with a minimal amount of migration effort. This is distinct from other decentralized cloud projects, which either offer a single solution like Kubernetes or a completely new environment that developers must adapt their code to run within.
<br/>
Better yet, each compute offering on the ThreeFold Grid benefits from the unique efficiency and security features of Zero OS, as well as the unique aspects of the primitives themselves. Thanks again for joining me on this journey into the wonderful world of ThreeFold technology. In the next episode, we'll cover the last element of the cloud infrastructure triad: network.

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---
title: "A Journey through the Decentralization and Blockchain Space – Part Two: Akash" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
description: "Akash & how it compares to ThreeFold
excerpt: This post is the second one in a series to explore fellow projects and their solutions with regards to what they share with ThreeFold but also where we differ. Follow me on my journey through the space. This time, we're looking into Akash!" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
date: 2021-10-05
updated: 2021-10-05 # Comment-out this line with a # if content is unchanged
draft: false # Make it "true" if you don't want Zola to "publish" yet
template: blogPage.html
taxonomies:
categories: [foundation]
tags: [threefold_grid, blockchain, technology, threefold_cloud, threefold_token]
extra:
subtitle: "" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
author: Hannah Cordes
authorImg: /images/people/hannah_cordes.jpg
imgPath: images/blog/project_comparison_2_akash.png
---
As announced in [the first episode of this series](https://threefold.io/blog/post/project_comparison_1_dfinity/), I’d like to shed some light on the complex decentralization and blockchain space and look into what fellow projects have to offer. There are various projects decentralizing parts of the internet. So in this second blog post, we’ll be exploring Akash and their solutions to find out what we have in common and where we differ. Follow me on the second step of my journey to better understand the space we operate in and how ThreeFold stands out.
## Akash & how the project compares to ThreeFold
Founded in 2015, [Akash](https://akash.network) is an open-source and blockchain-based cloud computing platform. They [strive](https://akash.network/about#vision) for an open, permissionless, and sovereign cloud that allows anyone to reserve computing resources without any intermediaries. Their cloud platform provides a simple way for deploying and scaling cloud applications.
<br/>
The Akash Network is a decentralized, on-chain marketplace for leasing cloud computing resources, while the Akash Container Platform is an off-chain platform for cloud management services (deployment, hosting, and management of workloads) on Kubernetes, the industry standard for container orchestration. We also integrated Kubernetes into our [P2P Cloud](https://threefold.io/info/cloud#/cloud__cloud_intro) solution, but we didn’t stop there. On ThreeFold’s cloud solution, developers additionally have the option to deploy virtual machines or to discover the future of cloud computing with [ZFlist](https://threefold.io/tech/zflist) – a game-changing Docker-compatible solution that is distributed across many mini VMs, positioning itself as the ideal infrastructure for edge workloads. And all data produced by these workloads can be stored in our [Quantum Safe File System](https://threefold.io/tech/zdbfs) solution that is highly compatible with most storage tools (e.g. S3) and protocols (e.g. IPFS).
<br/>
With Akash, developers would get access to what is probably the best decentralized computing cloud on the market, whereas ThreeFold offers a full stack cloud infrastructure that unites compute, storage, and network. Having integrated all leading industry-standard tools, ThreeFold’s [cloud solution](https://cloud.threefold.io/) allows for a seamless migration of any digital workload – even from centralized cloud providers like [AWS or Microsoft Azure](https://threefold.io/blog/post/threefold_cloud_vs_centralized_providers_like_aws_azure/). This empowers developers from all over the world to deploy their applications and workloads on a fully decentralized infrastructure, without having to learn new tools. Developers using Akash, however, may still need to rely on other decentralized projects to decentralize the storage and network components of their solutions.
<br/>
Akash sees their [USP](https://docs.akash.network) in hosting containers that allow any type of cloud-native application to be hosted without vendor lock-in or having to learn new protocols, a vision shared and extended by ThreeFold as the project is already compatible with most of the industry standards. With the integration of [Terraform](https://forum.threefold.io/t/threefold-grid-3-0-supports-terraform/1184) into the upcoming third release of the [ThreeFold Grid](https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2020/06/20/largest-distributed-peer-to-peer-grid-on-the-planet-laying-foundation-for-a-decentralized-internet/), developers will be capable of hosting any existing or future Linux workload seamlessly.
## Network and development possibilities
Akash is one of the most robust decentralized compute solutions out there and is one of the key players in driving the DeCloud movement. On its platform, computing resources can be leased on the Akash Marketplace, driven by its blockchain based on the [Cosmos SDK](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk). It’s already being used by a range of blockchains and applications. On their marketplace, users can determine the terms and price for their deployments and have cloud providers bid for the opportunity in a reversed auction. Nevertheless, the project still relies on centralized data centers as they seek to prevent unutilized capacity [from centralized cloud computing services](https://blog.orchid.com/akash-networks-greg-osuri-on-decentralizing-cloud-computing/) to go to waste, leveraging about 85% of this underutilized cloud capacity from data centers. So, while Akash is preventing capacity from being wasted, they also highly depend on centralized capacity – and so do the workloads using their platform.
<br/>
With ThreeFold, developers are enabled to tailor the terms for storing their workloads to fit their needs, benefiting from full decentralization and edge possibilities. Moreover, developers get access to the most distributed peer-to-peer infrastructure in the world – the ThreeFold, currently present in [more than 50 countries](https://explorer.grid.tf). Another unique attribute of the ThreeFold Grid is that the capacity within the network is provided by many people and organizations, forming an infrastructure that can be described as the “[People’s Internet](https://threefold.io/blog/post/tf_grid_peoples_internet/).” It is the first full-stack blockchain-enabled cloud to be made open source, allowing anyone to connect cloud capacity to the network by downloading [Zero-OS](https://threefold.io/tech/zero-os), our stateless and lightweight operating system powering the [ThreeFold Grid](https://threefold.io/grid). Once booted, the servers run and can’t be accessed physically. As they’re self-healing, they don’t require any maintenance. All in all, this model flips traditional IT upside down, allowing anyone to [join](https://threefold.io/blog/post/join_the_peoples_internet/) the ThreeFold ecosystem.
<br/>
Both projects also reward their communities for providing capacity. Akash planned to launch a limited edition for an own node device, called Supermini, with plug-and-play functionalities similar to our [3Node](https://library.threefold.me/info/threefold#/technology/technology?id=_3nodes). *However, Akash [just announced](https://akash.network/blog/supermini-update) that they’ll be postponing the launch of their Supermini indefinitely, meaning they won't be offering anything comparable to our 3Node anytime soon.* Our [3Node](https://threefold.io/farm) is a general purpose computer that acts as a low-level provider for IT capacity. It is booted with our unique operating system Zero-OS and enables even people without technical skills to participate. We’re collaborating with certified hardware partners and plan to extend our reach in the near future to allow even more people to [join](https://threefold.io/blog/post/join_the_peoples_internet/) the ThreeFold Grid.
## Tokenomics and incentive models
Both, Akash Token (AKT) and [ThreeFold Token](https://threefold.io/tft) (TFT), are utility tokens fuelling an open-source cloud. While the Akash Tokens (AKT) represent a unit of compute on the Akash Network, ThreeFold Tokens (TFT) represent a unit of compute, storage or network on the ThreeFold Grid. Akash’s payment model allows users to pay for what they need, when they need it, using a reverse auction. In order to create a deployment, users have to provide a deposit first. As payments are effected passively, it is crucial for users to keep their deposits funded to maintain the lease of their capacity reservations. With our [ThreeFold Blockchain](https://threefold.io/tech/tf-chain), which will be released on Testnet 3.0 soon, a [new billing model](https://forum.threefold.io/t/introducing-tf-chain-an-updated-billing-model/1277) is being introduced. This model allows users to authorize [smart contracts](https://threefold.io/tech/smart-contract) to automatically deduct their wallets (similarly to a direct debit transaction), depending on how much capacity they use. Additionally, we’re implementing a new discount model, which will provide users with discounted capacity pricings according to the amount of ThreeFold Tokens stored in a user’s wallet.
## Conclusion
All in all, Akash does a great job with regards to decentralizing cloud capacity. However, it doesn’t challenge the status-quo in terms of [data privacy](https://forum.threefold.io/t/security-privacy-on-the-threefold-grid-and-second-best-alternatives-out-there-today/1290). At ThreeFold, we’re determined to empower users, to give them back control and ownership of their data in an [entirely secure](https://forum.threefold.io/t/critical-security-updates-for-apple-and-google-underline-need-for-secure-it-ecosystem/1271), peer-to-peer IT ecosystem. While Akash and ThreeFold seem like competitors on a cloud level, we see ourselves more as a potential [decentralized substrate](https://forum.threefold.io/t/threefold-is-the-substrate-for-decloud/1295) for Akash to scale to the edges of our world. Akash developers would surely benefit from the lightweight and stateless features of our Zero-OS which could provide them with a more efficient and private infrastructure to test, build, and collaborate on workloads.
<br/>
Akash and ThreeFold share the same goal – to bring secure, performant, and data-sovereign cloud solutions for humanity to thrive. As Sam [put in a nutshell](https://forum.threefold.io/t/threefold-is-the-substrate-for-decloud/1295): ThreeFold is the ideal substrate for projects like Akash to run on, instead of depending on traditional cloud providers – as we provide the low-level primitives for a decentralized world. So, we believe [Akash and ThreeFold](https://forum.threefold.io/t/how-is-threefold-different-from-akash-and-holochain/804/2) are complementary in many ways and could join forces to further push the boundaries of [cloud decentralization](https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/ambitious-startup-to-disrupt-the-internet-and-cloud/b38rwj4) together.
<br/>
As we truly believe in collaboration, we invite all other projects in the space to join us in our quest to decentralize the entire Internet and Cloud stack to restore the neutrality we once took for granted. Thanks for taking this journey with me and don’t forget to stay tuned for the next stop: [Filecoin](https://threefold.io/blog/post/project_comparison_3_filecoin/)!

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---
title: "A Journey through the Decentralization and Blockchain Space – Part Three: Filecoin" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
description: "This post is the third one in a series to look into fellow projects and their solutions to better understand the space we operate in and how ThreeFold stands out. This time, we're taking a closer look at Filecoin!" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
date: 2021-10-08
updated: 2021-10-08 # Comment-out this line with a # if content is unchanged
draft: false # Make it "true" if you don't want Zola to "publish" yet
template: blogPage.html
taxonomies:
categories: [foundation]
tags: [threefold_grid, blockchain, technology]
extra:
subtitle: "" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
author: Hannah Cordes
authorImg: /images/people/hannah_cordes.jpg
imgPath: images/blog/project_comparison_3_filecoin.png
---
Welcome to the third stop on our journey that aims to better understand the space we operate in and how ThreeFold stands out. After exploring [Dfinity](https://threefold.io/blog/post/project_comparison_1_dfinity/) and [Akash](https://threefold.io/blog/post/project_comparison_2_akash/), I will now take a closer look at Filecoin to discover the similarities as well as differences of their project and ThreeFold. Let’s dive right in!
## Filecoin & how the project compares to ThreeFold
[Filecoin](https://filecoin.io) is a global decentralized storage network and marketplace, founded in 2014 and based on the peer-to-peer protocol [IPFS](https://ipfs.io/). The open-source project is one of the most popular providers of decentralized storage, with people storing files reliably on their mainnet. Like IPFS, Filecoin was founded by [Protocol Labs](https://protocol.ai).
<br/>
[IPFS and Filecoin](https://docs.ipfs.io/concepts/faq/#ipfs-and-filecoin) are two separate but complementary open-source protocols. IPFS enables users to store, request, and transfer their data on Filecoin in a reliable way and directly from the IPFS network. As we deeply care about data security and privacy, I’d like to point out that IPFS [does not provide a privacy layer](https://docs.ipfs.io/concepts/privacy-and-encryption/#what-s-public-on-ipfs) and that, subsequently, “all traffic on IPFS is public” – meaning there is no guarantee that your data would be stored privately and confidentially. At ThreeFold, we’re determined to provide a holistically [secure IT ecosystem](https://forum.threefold.io/t/critical-security-updates-for-apple-and-google-underline-need-for-secure-it-ecosystem/1271) with various secure and private [solutions](https://forum.threefold.io/t/security-privacy-on-the-threefold-grid-and-second-best-alternatives-out-there-today/1290), such as our Quantum Safe File System ([QSFS](https://threefold.io/tech/zdbfs)) and [Planetary Network](https://threefold.io/tech/planetary-network), to empower users by giving them control and ownership of their data.
<br/>
Filecoin provides a persistent data storage system and has built an incentive structure on top of the IPFS protocol to reward the provisioning of storage for other people’s data. The project offers a peer-to-peer [cloud storage](https://filecoin.io/store/#intro) network and marketplace, offering an open market and reducing entry barriers to becoming a storage provider.
<br/>
We also offer a peer-to-peer network and cloud solution. Our ThreeFold Grid is the [most advanced](https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2020/06/20/largest-distributed-peer-to-peer-grid-on-the-planet-laying-foundation-for-a-decentralized-internet/) distributed peer-to-peer network there is, currently present in [more than 50 countries](https://explorer.grid.tf). While Filecoin also has its own underlying blockchain, we’re the first full-stack blockchain-enabled cloud to be made open source. Moreover, we offer an energy-efficient [full stack cloud infrastructure](https://cloud.threefold.io) that unites compute, storage, and network, and integrates all leading industry-standard tools – allowing for a seamless migration of any digital workload, even from [traditional cloud providers](https://threefold.io/blog/post/threefold_cloud_vs_centralized_providers_like_aws_azure/) like Microsoft Azure or AWS.
<br/>
With our cloud solution, developers are also enabled to deploy virtual machines or to discover the future of cloud computing with ZFlist, a game-changing Docker-compatible solution. As [ZFlist](https://threefold.io/tech/zflist) is distributed across many mini virtual machines (VMs), it provides the ideal infrastructure for edge workloads on a highly secure level. On top of that, the data produced by these workloads can be stored in our [Quantum Safe File System](https://threefold.io/blog/post/building_a_new_internet_from_the_ground_up_pt2/) (QSFS) solution. Our QSFS is highly compatible with most storage tools (e.g. S3) and protocols (e.g. IPFS). In addition to that, developers using our tech are enabled to set the terms for storing their workloads based on their needs – they even have the opportunity to scale their applications to the edge with powerful compute and storage capabilities.
<br/>
By contributing and lending storage capacity on Filecoin’s marketplace, providers receive rewards, executed by Filecoin’s blockchain. However, providers can only participate in Filecoin’s market if their nodes are “[built specifically for Filecoin](https://docs.filecoin.io/about-filecoin/what-is-filecoin/#for-storage-providers).” Actually, Filecoin nodes are IPFS nodes and their most advanced implementation is based on Lotus, the Filecoin Node Client. Our [3Nodes](https://library.threefold.me/info/threefold#/technology/technology?id=_3nodes) have easy plug-and-play functionalities, allowing even people without technical skills to participate by getting a 3Node from one of our certified hardware partners and downloading our stateless and lightweight operating system [Zero-OS](https://threefold.io/tech/zero-os), the driving force behind our Grid. 3Nodes can even be plugged in at your home. Filecoin, however, doesn’t seem to offer any kind of certified hardware.
<br/>
While we’ve built our own operating system [from scratch](https://threefold.io/blog/post/zero_os_blog/), starting just with a Linux kernel, Filecoin doesn't have its own OS. ThreeFold is not only more inclusive but also has a much higher scalability as anyone’s able to participate. In contrast, Filecoin even issues a warning in their [documentation](https://docs.filecoin.io/mine/) which states that in order to run a successful mining operation, one has to meet high hardware requirements and to be highly familiar with Filecoin. Thanks to our autonomous, self-healing technology, no maintenance is required. To ensure the security of our 3Nodes can’t be accessed physically once booted. Therefore, our ThreeFold Grid is much more inclusive, as the network capacity on it is provided by many people and organizations constituting what we like to call “[People’s Internet](https://threefold.io/blog/post/tf_grid_peoples_internet/).” Currently, we’re planning to extend our reach to enable even more people to join the ThreeFold Grid.
<br/>
Filecoin’s native token FIL and the [ThreeFold Token](https://threefold.io/tft) (TFT) are both utility tokens that fuel an open-source cloud. The earning model for FIL follows a simple logic for earning: the more storage a miner adds, the more FIL the respective miner will be rewarded with while also receiving FIL from users leasing their storage capacity. However, Filecoin miners must stake their FIL and can even lose their stake if their node does not perform, whereas our farming model doesn’t require staking, so farmers don’t risk losing their funds. In addition to that, our ThreeFold Tokens (TFT) can represent either a unit of compute, storage or network on the [ThreeFold Grid](https://threefold.io/grid) and our farmers are rewarded for connecting one of these types of capacity to our Grid. Moreover, we’ll soon implement a [new discount model](https://forum.threefold.io/t/introducing-tf-chain-an-updated-billing-model/1277), providing users with discounted capacity pricings based on the amount of ThreeFold Tokens stored in a user’s wallet.
<br/>
In Filecoin’s model, [mining](https://docs.filecoin.io/mine/how-mining-works/) means contributing storage capacity to be leased by users on the marketplace that are looking to store their data. Currently, Filecoin has two types of miners – storage miners, who are responsible for storing data, and retrieval miners, who are responsible for the fast retrieval of files. A retrieval miner’s “ability to close retrieval deals” are determined by the miner’s respective bandwidth and response time. ThreeFold’s [farming](https://library.threefold.me/info/threefold#/tfgrid/farming/threefold__farming_intro) is the concept of expanding the Internet with more network, compute, and storage capacity. Farmers are [rewarded](https://library.threefold.me/info/threefold#/tfgrid/farming/threefold__farming_reward) income in the form of TFTs for providing internet capacity. Moreover, anyone can become a farmer, as farmers are independent from ThreeFold. There’s no technical knowledge is required to connect to our global peer-to-peer Internet infrastructure and all it takes is network bandwidth and electricity, in addition to our 3Node – without the interference of any type of intermediary. Therefore, a ThreeFold Farmer is ThreeFold’s more sustainable equivalent of the miners of other cryptocurrencies, disrupting the centralized data center model.
## Conclusion
To conclude, the two projects share the same vision of bringing users’ data closer to their respective owners, establishing an open cloud market that is independent from the few big centralized cloud providers currently dominating the market. Like ThreeFold, Filecoin seeks to provide a [network](https://filecoin.io/store/#flexible) built as well as owned by the people, regardless of their location. Nevertheless, Filecoin is focused on storage and mainly based on the IPFS protocol, only providing an incentive layer on top. In contrast, ThreeFold provides [all three](https://threefold.io/blog/post/an_intro_to_the_threefold_grid/) major low-level components of the internet’s backbone: compute, storage and network. Additionally, ThreeFold’s P2P Cloud offers a holistic set of solutions – from our Planetary Network and our Quantum Safe File System to our eVDC and marketplace. All in all, the technology and infrastructure we’re providing is turning traditional IT upside down.
<br/>
This is why ThreeFold is the [ideal substrate](https://forum.threefold.io/t/threefold-is-the-substrate-for-decloud/1295) for projects like Filecoin to run on, as we’re already IPFS-compatible and provide the low-level primitives for a fully decentralized cloud. So, we believe Filecoin and ThreeFold could team up to jointly drive the decentralization of cloud.
<br/>
On their website, Filecoin [states](https://filecoin.io/build/#community) that they’re all about “coming together to collaborate and build something greater,” so they seem open to collaboration – which is very appealing to us, as we truly believe in collaboration to effect change at a large scale to fully decentralize the [Internet and Cloud](https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/ambitious-startup-to-disrupt-the-internet-and-cloud/b38rwj4). Thanks for continuing this journey with me and don’t forget to stay tuned for the next stop: Storj!

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---
title: "How ThreeFold Can Truly Decentralize Blockchain" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
description: "Decentralizing Blockchain
excerpt: Is a blockchain truly decentralized if it is being hosted on a centralized solution? We say, no." # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
date: 2021-10-11
updated: 2021-10-11 # Comment-out this line with a # if content is unchanged
draft: false # Make it "true" if you don't want Zola to "publish" yet
template: blogPage.html
taxonomies:
categories: [farming,grid,aci,cloud,foundation]
tags: [farming,threefold_grid,technology,peer_to_peer,threefold_cloud]
extra:
subtitle: "" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
author: Sam Taggart
authorImg: /images/people/sam_taggart.jpg
imgPath: images/blog/decentralize_blockchain.png
---
The topic of decentralization is commonly tied to blockchain and cryptocurrencies. Blockchain doesn't store any of its information in a central location, rather it is copied and spread across a network of computers. And the most popular name in the blockchain space, Bitcoin, was intended as an alternative payment system free of central control.
<br/>
But many blockchains are facing the same challenge: How can they escape the monopolies of centralized cloud providers for their own workloads, as well as for the dApps built on top of them? The key question is, is a blockchain truly decentralized if it is being hosted on a centralized solution? We say: no.
<br/>
An example to illustrate this challenge is the fact that up to 60% of Ethereum (the world's second most-popular blockchain) nodes run on centralized cloud providers and [25% of them run on Amazon Web Services (AWS)](https://aws.amazon.com/blockchain/).
<br/>
While the topic is being addressed, it isn't being solved at scale. The good news is that ThreeFold can play a large part in solving it.
## Why should blockchains make this move?
The blockchain movement, as mentioned, is very heavily tied to the movement around decentralization. Cryptocurrencies represent the move away from centralized banks as the authorities and gatekeepers around money – just as ThreeFold and similar projects represent the move away from centralized clouds as the authorities and gatekeepers around data. The thing is, if blockchains are to rely on centralized cloud for hosting, they aren't truly embodying decentralization.
<br/>
Understandably, many blockchains have chosen centralized cloud providers in the past because there wasn't much of an alternative. But now, the Decentralized Cloud (DeCloud) movement has changed all of that.
<br/>
Here is how some specific audiences can benefit:
### For Node Operators
Any full node or validator node can run on ThreeFold’s [Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Cloud](https://cloud.threefold.io/), making that particular Blockchain even more community-owned, and more decentralized from an IT/cloud level. Any node operator can choose to run their nodes from any farmer location on the ThreeFold Grid, totally [peer-to-peer](https://threefold.io/blog/post/what_is_peer_to_peer/) between the chosen farmer and the node operator. The deployed workloads are computed in a P2P manner, no middle party involved.
### For dApp Developers
Web3/Blockchain developers can use ThreeFold’s P2P Cloud - offering both compute and storage - to build and power their applications in a truly decentralized cloud infrastructure, both blockchain-native and cloud-native. A strong advantage here is that developers have the ability to leverage Kubernetes, Docker, S3, and other cloud-native tools (all compatible / integrated with the ThreeFold) to power and optimize their data processing capabilities, as well as the overall functionality of their dApps. But the sweet spot is that it is deployed on a decentralized IT infrastructure, close to where users would be located.
## But why choose ThreeFold over other DeCloud projects?
There may be bigger names in the space, but ThreeFold's technology and offerings are much more comprehensive than the rest. ThreeFold provides decentralized storage, compute, and network all under one roof (whereas most other projects offer only one of the three) and as mentioned, we have created an environment for developers which is highly-compatible to the developer tools and solutions they use today. Further, ThreeFold is building new infrastructure [from the ground up](https://threefold.io/blog/post/an_intro_to_the_threefold_grid/) (rather than relying on extra space in data centers) and the technology is truly peer-to-peer.
<br/>
We already have [a number of partners in the space](https://threefold.io/partners/blockchain) who recognize these advantages.
<br/>
Any blockchain protocol or dApp, whether operating DeFi, NFTs, DEXs, etc, will at some point need to leverage the power of the decentralized cloud and escape from centralized cloud providers. We’re seeing some of that adoption from a decentralized storage side with IPFS, which has been adopted by many dApps, and others – but as a developer, you will have to think twice, not just about where your/your users’ data is being stored, but also about how (and where) your app is computed and powered.
<br/>
**Participate now in our quest to fully decentralize the Internet by [becoming a node](https://threefold.io/farm) on our grid or [buying TFT](https://threefold.io/tft).**

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title: "Why is ThreeFold P2P Cloud the better solution for customers than Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure?" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
description: "As we’ve recently been exploring decentralized projects to see where ThreeFold is in the space and where we stand out, we thought it’s a good time to also look into how we compare to traditional, centralized cloud providers." # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
date: 2021-10-12
updated: 2021-10-12 # Comment-out this line with a # if content is unchanged
draft: false # Make it "true" if you don't want Zola to "publish" yet
template: blogPage.html
taxonomies:
categories: [foundation,farming,cloud]
tags: [threefold_grid, threefold_cloud, technology, partner, peer_to_peer]
extra:
subtitle: "" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
author: Hannah Cordes
authorImg: /images/people/hannah_cordes.jpg
imgPath: images/blog/threefold_cloud_vs_centralized_providers.png
---
As we’ve recently been exploring decentralized [projects](https://threefold.io/blog/post/project_comparison_1_dfinity/) to see where ThreeFold is in the space and where we stand out, we thought it’s a good time to also look into how we compare to traditional, centralized cloud providers.
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The cloud market is a highly complex and competitive one, currently [dominated](https://www.srgresearch.com/articles/amazon-and-microsoft-maintain-their-grip-market-others-are-also-growing-rapidly) by the market leaders Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure who account for more than half of the worldwide cloud revenues. This centralized nature of today’s cloud as well as its hyper-scale data center model are the cause for various issues, ranging from the monopolistic power of the few big market players and vendor lock-in effects to the incredibly high energy consumption of data centers and the limited scalability of the current model. Moreover, traditional data centers are more prone to outages and cyber attacks. We believe the [ThreeFold Grid](https://threefold.io/grid) built by independent farmers around the globe and our [ThreeFold P2P Cloud](https://cloud.threefold.io) provide a solution to all of these issues.
<br/>
While centralized cloud providers do offer some benefits, such as robust feature sets and huge customer service teams, there are a few key and important differences we think any customer would care about:
## Decentralization
This is the biggest and most obvious difference. Today, big tech holds a [monopoly](https://www.srgresearch.com/articles/amazon-and-microsoft-maintain-their-grip-market-others-are-also-growing-rapidly) on the Internet and Cloud markets, meaning they somehow became the gatekeepers of what was originally intended to be a distributed, neutral Internet. When using AWS or Google Cloud, the data is stored in centralized data centers owned by private corporations. These data centers are susceptible to hacking and outages that can take down massive chunks of the Internet. In this system, people have become products, as they exchange their [data](https://threefold.io/blog/post/data_leaks/) for “free” online experiences. With [ThreeFold](https://threefold.io/mission), data is stored fully decentralized on the peer-to-peer ThreeFold Grid, where the physical hardware is owned by independent ThreeFold [Farmers](https://threefold.io/farm), and the data is owned by as well as only accessible to the person(s) who put it there. So, hackers can’t get in and due to the decentralized nature of the [ThreeFold Grid](https://threefold.io/grid), large-scale outages would be much less likely as well. Further, no organization or entity needs to be trusted and people are not treated as products – with ThreeFold’s infrastructure, the Internet is owned [by the people](https://threefold.io/blog/post/tf_grid_peoples_internet/).
## Limitless Scalability at the Edge
Our lightweight operating system [Zero-OS](https://threefold.io/tech/zero-os) makes it possible and even easy to install a node close to where the data is being consumed. There is no need for large servers, nor for heavy power supply installations. Together with our hardware partners, we’re offering [3Nodes](https://threefold.io/farm) with plug-and-play functionalities, allowing [anyone to participate](https://threefold.io/blog/post/join_the_peoples_internet/). This makes our model infinitely scalable at the edge. Hyper-scale data centers are not able to provide these levels of scalability and edge benefits. In order to scale their operations, centralized cloud providers need to build more data centers and take care of the related maintenance which takes time and costs billions. The traditional data center model also isn’t well suited for the edge, as this requires flexibility and close proximity to the respective data.
## Security
Centralized clouds are secure, but vulnerable. At ThreeFold, we pride ourselves on the levels of security we’re providing. The [peer-to-peer](https://threefold.io/tech/peer-to-peer) nature of our technology means end-to-end transmission of data between parties (with no middlemen). This is a big one: Nothing is being stored or copied in central servers. Moreover, ThreeFold’s self-driving and self-healing IT removes the need for human intervention and eliminates the many back doors present in current architecture. So, [security issues](https://forum.threefold.io/t/critical-security-updates-for-apple-and-google-underline-need-for-secure-it-ecosystem/1271) caused by human error and hacking possibilities both diminish greatly. In addition to that, there is the distributed storage algorithm which makes it nearly impossible for data to be lost. And much more. You can find more info on our [wiki](https://library.threefold.me/info/threefold#/tfgrid/threefold__usp_secure?id=network-security) or in this [forum post](https://forum.threefold.io/t/security-privacy-on-the-threefold-grid-and-second-best-alternatives-out-there-today/1290).
## Privacy
The fact that you [own your data](https://threefold.io/blog/post/threefold_data_sovereignty/) and nobody – not even us – can get access to it is key to making ThreeFold much more private than centralized cloud providers. On top of that, connections within our global overlay network, the [Planetary Network](https://forum.threefold.io/t/how-our-planetary-network-works/1210), are peer-to-peer and end-to-end encrypted.
## Affordability
In the end, the centralized cloud is quite expensive, whereas our ThreeFold P2P Cloud is much more cost-effective. Learn more about this in our cloud pricing comparison [here](https://library.threefold.me/info/threefold#/tfgrid/pricing/threefold__cloud_pricing_compare).
## Energy Efficiency
While electricity for storing and transporting data, administration, human resources, and even gas (to transport physical data-holding devices) lead to a very high energy consumption, our dispersed storage model and peer-to-peer infrastructure allow for [significant energy savings](https://library.threefold.me/info/threefold#/sustainability/threefold__energy_savings_storage). So, another big difference between ThreeFold and centralized cloud providers is that we’re up to 100x more [energy-efficient](https://new.threefold.io/blog/post/for_our_planet/).
<br/>
All in all, the combination of our [ThreeFold Grid](https://threefold.io/grid) and [ThreeFold P2P Cloud](https://cloud.threefold.io) provide significant advantages over centralized cloud providers with their hyper-scale data centers. From decentralization and infinite scalability at the edge to considerable energy savings and cost effectiveness as well as data privacy and security, [our solution](https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/ambitious-startup-to-disrupt-the-internet-and-cloud/b38rwj4) has much more value to offer, while solving critical issues related to centralized clouds. If you’d like to test our cloud solution yourself, take a look [here](https://threefold.io/info/cloud#/cloud__evdc_getting_started). You can also start participating in our decentralized ecosystem by becoming a [3Node]( https://shop.threefold.tech/index.php?route=common/home) on our ThreeFold Grid.

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---
title: "Our Quest to Fully Decentralize the Internet" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
description: "It's our mission to transform the Internet and Cloud. Learn more about the status quo and how we're working on fully decentralizing the entire Internet!" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
date: 2021-10-14
updated: 2021-10-14 # Comment-out this line with a # if content is unchanged
draft: false # Make it "true" if you don't want Zola to "publish" yet
template: blogPage.html
taxonomies:
categories: [foundation, cloud]
tags: [threefold_grid, threefold_cloud, technology, blockchain, peer_to_peer]
extra:
subtitle: "" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
author: Hannah Cordes
authorImg: /images/people/hannah_cordes.jpg
imgPath: images/blog/quest_decentralize_internet.png
---
Tim Berners-Lee created the web server and browser in 1990. Back then, the web was of a free, rather decentralized nature in which no single entity was to control the access to it. With the client-server architecture of the web, however, centralization came about. [Nowadays](https://threefold.io/info/threefold#/threefold__why_intro?id=everyone-should-be-autonomous), the web as well as the Internet in general are highly centralized. There are only a few companies acting as gatekeepers to large parts of today’s Internet. The Internet as we know it is continuously [struggling with issues](https://theconversation.com/web-3-0-the-decentralised-web-promises-to-make-the-internet-free-again-113139) related to its centralized nature – from censorship and attacks on net neutrality to manipulation attempts from companies with [monopolistic power](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/08/28/who-owns-the-internet). These issues are systematic and major players like Amazon or Facebook are [benefitting](https://techmonitor.ai/boardroom/power-of-tech-companies) from the situation as it is. This business model is also highly reliant on centralized hyperscale [data centers](https://threefold.io/blog/post/data_leaks/) that also come with a whole set of issues, from their vulnerability and limited scalability to their extremely high energy consumption [and more](https://threefold.io/blog/post/threefold_cloud_vs_centralized_providers_like_aws_azure/).
<br/>
People have become the [product](https://threefold.io/blog/post/threefold_data_sovereignty/) of a business model where companies offer their services in exchange for personal data – in order to capitalize on and exploit the data, basically squeezing people out for their data like oranges for juice. In times where [data exploitation](https://www.techradar.com/news/why-personal-data-exploitation-has-become-the-norm) is the norm, it makes sense that data is often referred to as digital oil or gold. Moreover, algorithms of social media platforms increasingly lead to content provoking controversy and [addictive](https://thereboot.com/creating-decentralized-social-media-alternatives-to-facebook-and-twitter/) engagement as this type of content tends to increase the time people spend on the platforms – with shocking impacts like The Wall Street Journals’ [investigation](https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-facebook-files-11631713039) “The Facebook Files” and The New York Times’ audio series [Rabbit Hole](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/22/podcasts/rabbit-hole-prologue.html) show.
<br/>
All of these issues have strengthened the push towards decentralization, mainly associated with the blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. However, many of the projects in the decentralized space still rely on centralized providers or structures to some degree. The second most-popular blockchain in the world, [Ethereum](https://threefold.io/blog/post/decentralize_blockchain/), for example, has 60% of its nodes run on [centralized cloud providers](https://threefold.io/blog/post/threefold_cloud_vs_centralized_providers_like_aws_azure/) with 25% of them running on Amazon Web Services (AWS). [Akash](https://threefold.io/blog/post/project_comparison_2_akash/), a blockchain-based cloud computing platform, prevents unutilized capacity from centralized cloud computing services from going to waste. Leveraging this underutilized cloud capacity, however, also causes Akash to be highly dependent on [centralized capacity](https://blog.orchid.com/akash-networks-greg-osuri-on-decentralizing-cloud-computing/). [Dfinity’s](https://threefold.io/blog/post/project_comparison_1_dfinity/) platform for decentralized apps (dApps) is based on an ecosystem of independent data centers, which makes it rather centralized on an infrastructural level.
<br/>
While the previously mentioned projects are all seeking to push decentralization, they all have one thing in common: they rely on centralized structures or providers at least to some degree and therefore, are not fully decentralized yet. So, what does [true decentralization](https://threefold.io/blog/post/decentralize_blockchain/) look like?
## How ThreeFold is Changing the Game
It is our [mission](https://threefold.io/mission) to transform the Internet and Cloud and to create borderless opportunities for humanity. Therefore, we‘re truly committed to decentralizing the infrastructure behind the Internet to scale current and future digital workloads. At Threefold, we’re building an entirely [new infrastructure](https://threefold.io/blog/post/an_intro_to_the_threefold_grid/) from the ground up, starting with a [Grid](https://threefold.io/grid) of new, neutral capacity and our operating system [Zero-OS](https://threefold.io/blog/post/zero_os_blog/). Our ThreeFold Grid, based on open-source [technology](https://threefold.io/tech), enables an autonomous, [secure](https://library.threefold.me/info/threefold#/tfgrid/threefold__usp_secure?id=network-security), and energy-efficient infrastructure that allows for unlimited scalability while remaining affordable. Our Grid is the largest and [most advanced](https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2020/06/20/largest-distributed-peer-to-peer-grid-on-the-planet-laying-foundation-for-a-decentralized-internet/) peer-to-peer infrastructure in the world, already available in more than [50 countries](https://explorer.grid.tf/) and keeps expanding fast. With our energy-efficient full stack [cloud infrastructure](https://cloud.threefold.io), uniting compute, storage, and network, we are much more comprehensive than other projects.
<br/>
At ThreeFold, we believe in giving power to the people by developing technologies that empower individuals, enable social participation, and foster collaboration. We’re enabling even people without technical skills to [join the network](https://threefold.io/farm) with plug-and-play [3Nodes](https://shop.threefold.tech/index.php?route=common/home) offered through our certified hardware partners. The ThreeFold Grid is therefore [more inclusive](https://www.threefold.io/blog/post/tf_grid_peoples_internet/) and allows any individual to participate. Our peer-to-peer nature removes the need of centralized servers and any type of intermediary, allowing applications and data to live closer to where they’re being utilized.
<br/>
In addition to that, we believe that no one but you should own your data. Our technology empowers every user to be [data sovereign](https://threefold.io/blog/post/threefold_data_sovereignty/), giving them full control over their own data by using a variety of innovative technologies, such as autonomous IT, blockchain, and [peer-to-peer](https://threefold.io/tech/peer-to-peer) networking. This way, our technology is turning traditional IT upside down, enabling a data-sovereign Internet that gives users [control](https://threefold.io/blog/post/join_the_peoples_internet/) and ownership of their data in an [entirely secure](https://forum.threefold.io/t/critical-security-updates-for-apple-and-google-underline-need-for-secure-it-ecosystem/1271), peer-to-peer IT ecosystem.
<br/>
All in all, we provide the low-level primitives for a [decentralized world](https://forum.threefold.io/t/threefold-is-the-substrate-for-decloud/1295), enabling any project to run on a fully decentralized, [energy-efficient](https://new.threefold.io/blog/post/for_our_planet/), and self-healing infrastructure. As we truly believe in collaboration to effect change at a large scale to fully decentralize the [Internet and Cloud](https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/ambitious-startup-to-disrupt-the-internet-and-cloud/b38rwj4), our [partnership](https://threefold.io/partners) ecosystem keeps growing. Most recently, we announced a [strategic partnership](https://threefold.io/partners/owncloud) with ownCloud, an alternative to public clouds with more than 200 million users worldwide, that aims to advance the decentralization of the [consumer cloud](https://threefold.io/news/post/owncloud_threefold/).
<br/>
So, we’d like to invite you to join forces with us to further push the [decentralization](https://www.econotimes.com/ThreeFold-DFINITY-and-the-race-to-Decentralize-the-Internet-1618367) of the Internet together – whether by becoming a [3Node](https://threefold.io/farm) or building on our ThreeFold Grid, by buying our ThreeFold Token ([TFT](https://threefold.io/tft)), our currency for a decentralized world, or by [testing](https://threefold.io/info/cloud#/cloud__evdc_getting_started) our P2P Cloud. Let’s [revolutionize](https://tgdaily.com/web/6-dfinity-threefold-are-leading-an-internet-decentralization-revolution/) the Internet together!

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---
title: "A Journey through the Decentralization and Blockchain Space – Part Four: Storj" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
description: "Storj & how it compares to ThreeFold
excerpt: Follow me to the fourth stop on my journey through the space. This time, we’re looking into Storj!" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
date: 2021-10-21
updated: 2021-10-21 # Comment-out this line with a # if content is unchanged
draft: false # Make it "true" if you don't want Zola to "publish" yet
template: blogPage.html
taxonomies:
categories: [foundation, cloud, technology]
tags: [threefold_grid, threefold_cloud, technology, blockchain, peer_to_peer]
extra:
subtitle: "" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
author: Hannah Cordes
authorImg: /images/people/hannah_cordes.jpg
imgPath: images/blog/project_comparison_4_storj.png
---
Welcome to the fourth part of our journey through the decentralization space. After exploring [Dfinity](https://threefold.io/blog/post/project_comparison_1_dfinity/), [Akash](https://threefold.io/blog/post/project_comparison_2_akash/), and most recently [Filecoin](https://threefold.io/blog/post/project_comparison_3_filecoin/), we’ll now explore Storj to find out what we have in common and where ThreeFold stands out. Here we go!
## Storj & how the project compares to ThreeFold
[Storj](https://www.storj.io) is a decentralized cloud storage (DCS) solution founded in 2014 by Shawn Wilkinson, offering cloud object storage on its network of nodes and ISPs spread across different countries.
<br/>
ThreeFold and Storj are both open source projects that view transparency as an integral part of their business philosophy. Actually, ThreeFold is the first full-stack blockchain-enabled [cloud](https://cloud.threefold.io/) to be made open source – all of our code is open source and available for everyone to review or use.
<br/>
Another similarity is that security and privacy are crucial aspects of our projects. Both are private by design and believe it’s vital that every person has total [control and ownership](https://threefold.io/blog/post/threefold_data_sovereignty/) over their data – not even Storj or ThreeFold can access the data of users within their respective ecosystems, creating trustless environments. Storj provides security and privacy by encrypting the data by an [Uplink client](https://docs.storj.io/dcs/concepts/overview) before it is uploaded to its DCS. The data is then split into pieces which are distributed across different nodes and ISPs connected to Storj’s cloud network. At ThreeFold, we’re creating an [entirely secure](https://forum.threefold.io/t/critical-security-updates-for-apple-and-google-underline-need-for-secure-it-ecosystem/1271), peer-to-peer IT ecosystem that empowers users and gives them back control and ownership of their own data. We’re [secure](https://library.threefold.me/info/threefold#/tfgrid/threefold__usp_secure?id=network-security) across all dimensions of our solutions – from our operating system Zero-OS to Quantum Safe File System ([QSFS](https://threefold.io/tech/zdbfs)) and [Planetary Network](https://threefold.io/tech/planetary-network).
<br/>
While Storj does not have its own operating system, we’ve built our [Zero-OS](https://www.threefold.io/tech/zero-os) from scratch. It allows servers to run autonomously and workloads to be hosted securely, preventing them from administrative exploits and errors. The self-driving and self-healing [features](https://threefold.io/blog/post/zero_os_blog/) of Zero-OS eliminate backdoors, reduce the hacking surface and remove the need for human involvement.
<br/>
Both projects are compatible with certain IT tools and protocols. While Storj is S3-compatible and [integrates](https://www.storj.io/integrations) a couple of developer tools like FileZilla or Fastly, ThreeFold is highly compatible with leading industry standards and tools from S3 to Docker containers, [Kubernetes](https://forum.threefold.io/t/grid-utilization-plan-part-one/1157) and more. Moreover, ThreeFold can run anything that runs on Linux, allowing for a seamless migration of any digital workload, even from [traditional cloud providers](https://threefold.io/blog/post/threefold_cloud_vs_centralized_providers_like_aws_azure/) like Microsoft Azure or AWS.
<br/>
A difference between the projects is that Storj focuses on providing the storage layer for developers to build storage applications like Dropbox upon, rather than offering such services themselves, whereas our energy-efficient full stack [cloud infrastructure](https://cloud.threefold.io/) includes solutions like the [ThreeFold Marketplace](https://threefold.io/marketplace) of ready-made peer-to-peer applications that runs on our Edge Virtual Data Center ([eVDC](https://threefold.io/info/cloud#/cloud__evdc)). Moreover, we’re working with innovative teams and developers to develop self-sovereign [alternatives](https://threefold.io/blog/post/interview_with_jimber/) to commonly used applications (e.g. video conferencing, office tools).
### Network & Storage
On Storj’s decentralized network, uploaded data is automatically spread across nodes in different countries. The storage capacity on Storj’s network is increased whenever a new node is connected to it. There are roughly 9,6 Petabyte of data stored on Storj with nodes in more than 80 countries, whereas roughly 85 Petabyte of storage, compute, and network capacity are deployed on the [ThreeFold Grid](https://threefold.io/grid). Currently, the nodes connected to our Grid are spread over more than [50 countries](https://explorer.grid.tf).
<br/>
While Storj only offers storage capacity, ThreeFold provides storage, compute, and network capacity. Moreover, our system is endlessly scaleable, whereas Storj’s scalability is limited as it does not empower people without technical skills to contribute and has more complex structures, such as its Satellite component which will be explained further down. We’re continuously extending our reach and our system is capable of seamlessly growing on demand, as it enables anyone to [become a 3Node](https://threefold.io/farm) on our ThreeFold Grid. Moreover, our self-driving and self-healing [technology](https://threefold.io/tech) is unique in the space and removes the need for monitoring and maintaining the nodes.
<br/>
Storage nodes on Storj are responsible for storing and returning data reliably. While Storj generally allows anyone with the excess capacity and bandwidth to run a node on its network, the project does not offer certified hardware. With Storj, anyone who wants to become a node operator has to build their own nodes which have to meet the specific hardware [requirements](https://docs.storj.io/node/before-you-begin/prerequisites) of Storj. At ThreeFold, our technology was designed to scale to anywhere electricity and bandwidth can be found to meet local digital infrastructure needs, to empower the unconnected and to drive our vision of an interconnected world. This is also why we’re working with certified hardware partners to provide [plug-and-play](https://shop.threefold.tech/index.php?route=common/home) 3Nodes. These 3Nodes enable even people without technical skills to join and contribute to what we like to call the [People’s Internet](https://threefold.io/blog/post/join_the_peoples_internet/), as [we believe](https://threefold.io/mission) that everyone should be given equal chances and that Internet access is a human right.
<br/>
Next to the storage nodes, there are two other [main components](https://docs.storj.io/dcs/concepts/overview) of the Storj network: Uplink and Satellite. [Uplink](https://docs.storj.io/dcs/concepts/definitions) is Storj’s umbrella term for any application that stores or retrieves data and encrypts, encodes, and coordinates data with other services. Storj’s [Satellite](https://docs.storj.io/dcs/concepts/satellite) consists of a set of storage node services like storage node reputation, data repair, billing and more. Storj users have to sign up for accounts on Satellites and pick a specific Satellite to trust. While any user could run their own Satellite in theory, Storj recommends users to create an account on a Satellite that is hosted by a third party like Storj Labs to reduce complexity. This approach, however, fosters centralization, whereas our peer-to-peer [infrastructure](https://smartereum.com/189750/threefold-is-audaciously-building-a-new-decentralized-internet/) is an open system where anyone can provide and utilize cloud resources without any intermediaries. On top of that, we’ve implemented cryptographically-secured deployment specifications, called [Smart Contracts for IT](https://threefold.io/tech/smart-contract), to ensure that workloads run as intended in a tamper-proof way, and allow systems to scale and heal autonomously without intermediaries.
### Tokenomics & Payment Methods
Both projects have native utility tokens. While the Storj token is an Ethereum-based token that represents a unit of storage capacity on the Storj network, [ThreeFold Tokens](https://threefold.io/tft) (TFT) can represent either a unit of compute, storage or network on the ThreeFold Grid. Some Storj community members [criticize](https://forum.storj.io/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-where-is-the-storj-token-utility/12452) a lack of utility of the Storj token, as storage capacity on Storj can be purchased and paid for not only in Storj token but also using fiat payment options like credit card or invoice. However, Storj themselves don’t see this as an issue and [state](https://www.storj.io/blog/storj-token-balances-and-flows-report-q1-2021) that the intention behind their tokens is to facilitate the provision and receipt of data storage and not to create a digital currency or any other kind of financial instrument. In contrast, our ThreeFold Tokens are the fuel for IT capacity, as they allow people to hold current and future cloud capacity on the ThreeFold Grid. Moreover, a limited supply of four billion ThreeFold Token has been set to keep the currency scarce, while the burning mechanism simultaneously ensures continuous rewards for current and future nodes. Find out more about our two algorithms, Proof-of-Capacity (PoC) and Proof-of-Utilization (PoU), in our [tokenomics](https://library.threefold.me/info/threefold#/tokens/threefold__tokenomics).
<br/>
By connecting storage nodes to Storj’s network and providing storage capacity to others, node operators get rewarded with Storj tokens which they receive [from Storj Labs](https://www.storj.io/blog/storj-token-balances-and-flows-report-q2-2021) as a centralized payment operator, whereas ThreeFold Token are already rewarded upon the connection of capacity to our Grid. Moreover, storage capacity on Storj’s network can only be purchased with a subscription-based [model](https://www.storj.io/pricing). With ThreeFold, anyone can become a farmer and be [rewarded income](https://library.threefold.me/info/threefold#/tfgrid/farming/threefold__farming_reward) in the form of ThreeFold Tokens for [expanding](https://library.threefold.me/info/threefold#/tfgrid/farming/threefold__farming_intro) the Internet by contributing cloud capacity. ThreeFold Tokens incentivize an open and autonomous [peer-to-peer](https://threefold.io/tech/peer-to-peer) system free from any type of intermediary. We’re enabling anyone to become an independent farmer, as we believe in empowering people and that no single entity should have the power to control systems. Based on our [ThreeFold Blockchain](https://threefold.io/tech/tf-chain), which will be released on Testnet 3.0 soon, a new discount as well as [billing model](https://forum.threefold.io/t/introducing-tf-chain-an-updated-billing-model/1277) will be introduced. The latter will allow users to authorize [smart contracts](https://threefold.io/tech/smart-contract) to automatically deduct their wallets according to the capacity they use.
## Conclusion
In summary, we both share the same vision of a decentralized Internet. The biggest difference between Storj and ThreeFold is that Storj is focused on providing storage, whereas [ThreeFold](https://threefold.io/blog/post/an_intro_to_the_threefold_grid/) does not only provide storage but also compute and network capacity. While Storj seeks to be the storage layer for the [decentralized Internet](https://threefold.io/blog/post/quest_decentralize_internet/), ThreeFold provides the [low-level primitives](https://threefold.io/blog/post/an_intro_to_the_threefold_grid/) for a *truly* decentralized Internet: compute, storage and network.
<br/>
While we’re the [largest](https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2020/06/20/largest-distributed-peer-to-peer-grid-on-the-planet-laying-foundation-for-a-decentralized-internet/), most advanced peer-to-peer cloud infrastructure in the world and are expanding fast, some aspects of Storj's storage network still function in a rather centralized manner, such as their payment model and Satellites. In addition to that, we’re providing the ideal infrastructure for edge workloads. The project could therefore [benefit](https://forum.threefold.io/t/threefold-is-the-substrate-for-decloud/1295) from moving on top of our fully decentralized, highly energy-efficient and autonomous [infrastructure](https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/ambitious-startup-to-disrupt-the-internet-and-cloud/b38rwj4). Together, we could drive the [decentralization](https://www.econotimes.com/ThreeFold-DFINITY-and-the-race-to-Decentralize-the-Internet-1618367) of storage capacity all over the world. We believe in a world without boundaries, where people are able to share information, value and knowledge without limits nor intermediaries. To achieve this vision and to effect change at a large scale it takes collaboration. Thanks for coming along and stay tuned, as we’ll take a closer look at Holochain next!

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---
title: "Introducing the TF (Chain) Admin Portal – for farmers and grid users!" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
description: "Last week, we shared an update on what's new in TF Grid 3.0.1 – and the path to mainnet! There's been a lot of exciting progress by the team, and we wanted to share more details with you, starting with the admin portal!" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
date: 2021-11-26
updated: 2021-11-26 # Comment-out this line with a # if content is unchanged
draft: false # Make it "true" if you don't want Zola to "publish" yet
template: blogPage.html
taxonomies:
categories: [foundation, cloud, technology]
tags: [threefold_grid, threefold_cloud, technology, blockchain, update]
extra:
subtitle: "" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
author: Sam Taggart
authorImg: /images/people/sam_taggart.jpg
imgPath: images/blog/tech_update_admin_portal.png
---
Last week, we shared an update on [what's new in TF Grid 3.0.1 – and the path to mainnet!](https://forum.threefold.io/t/whats-new-in-tf-grid-3-0-1-and-the-path-to-mainnet/1488) There's been a lot of exciting progress by the team, and we wanted to share with you some more specifics where we can – starting with the admin portal!
## What is the admin portal?
One of the requests from farmers and grid users was a to have a simpler user experience. The admin portal (aka TF Chain UI) is a response to that feedback, a graphical user interface for farmers and grid users on top of [the TF Chain](https://library.threefold.me/info/manual/#/threefold__tfchain).
<br/>
**The admin portal is the starting point for anyone to start working with the TF Grid.** For Farmers in particular they now have a much simpler way to create a farming identity and then connect their infrastructure to the ThreeFold Grid 3.0. It is a one stop shop to start a farm. Beyond that, it's a way for any TF Grid user to create their account on the TF Chain, get a Twin, and get started (testing for now) on the TF Grid 3.0 devnet or testnet.
<br/>
*Find links to get started at the bottom!*
## What does the admin portal do?
The admin portal is a place for TF Grid users to:
<br/>
Create an account on the TF Chain and a digital twin to start smart contracting on TF Chain (allowing you to also link to your IP address for added security).
<br/>
![tf_chain_ui](/images/blog/tf_chain_ui.png)
<br/>
Operate a bridge between Stellar and TF Chain on Parity Substrate (deposit TFT from Stellar, or return unused TFT to the Stellar chain, the bridge is active in both directions)
<br/>
![tf_chain_deposit](/images/blog/tf_chain_deposit.png)
<br/>
![tf_chain_withdraw](/images/blog/tf_chain_withdraw.png)
<br/>
For farmers: create and manage your farm(s), provide IPv4 addresses available for your farm(s), attach a Stellar wallet for TFT payouts, and a link to download the bootloader for testnet and devnet (mainnet is on its way).
<br/>
![tf_chain_your_farm](/images/blog/tf_chain_your_farm.png)
<br/>
The portal also links to the new capacity explorer, which we'll share more about early next week.
<br/>
![tf_chain_node_resources](/images/blog/tf_chain_node_resources.png)
## How is this an improvement over the old process?
Previously, all of these tools existed, but not always in the same place or with a clear and easy-to-use UX/UI. We've tested this portal with people of all technical levels, and the response has been great! We believe the portal is a huge step forward for anyone using or managing the ThreeFold Grid.
<br/>
More improvements will come in the next versions. As an example, we're planning for you to be able to see the connected nodes linked to your farm with their status, earned tokens, etc.
## Get started
The portal is currently available on [devnet](https://portal.dev.grid.tf) and [testnet](https://portal.test.grid.tf/). You can also find information on the portal in our library [here](https://library.threefold.me/info/manual/#/manual__tfgrid3_getstarted). *Please note, you'll need to install the Polkadot{.js} extension and create or import an account in order to get started.*
<br/>
*Visit our forum to discuss you experiences with the new admin portal [here](https://forum.threefold.io/t/introducing-the-tf-chain-admin-portal-for-farmers-and-grid-users/1526).*

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---
title: "The ThreeFold Grid 3.x Explorer UI" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
description: "The Explorer was designed to provide a simple way for anyone to find decentralized Internet capacity on the ThreeFold Grid, and we’re thrilled to announce a new user interface for Grid 3.x on both testnet and devnet!" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
date: 2021-11-30
updated: 2021-11-30 # Comment-out this line with a # if content is unchanged
draft: false # Make it "true" if you don't want Zola to "publish" yet
template: blogPage.html
taxonomies:
categories: [foundation, cloud, technology]
tags: [threefold_grid, threefold_cloud, technology, blockchain, update]
extra:
subtitle: "The UNIQUE Post 1 subtitle" # Quotation marks allow colons, semicolons, etc.
author: HANNAH CORDES
authorImg: /images/people/hannah_cordes.jpg
imgPath: images/blog/tech_update_explorer_interface.png
---
We are very excited to present to you the new Explorer UI for ThreeFold Grid 3.x! 🎉
<br/>
The Explorer was designed to provide **a simple way for anyone to find decentralized Internet capacity on the ThreeFold Grid**, and we’re thrilled to announce a new user interface for Grid 3.x on both [testnet](https://explorer.test.grid.tf/) and [devnet](https://explorer.dev.grid.tf/).
<br/>
The new explorer builds upon the recent migration to the Parity Substrate, **bringing true decentralization** to the way compute, storage and network capacity information is sourced from 3Nodes. The previous [explorer](https://explorer.grid.tf/) (used for 2.x) has been sourcing its information from a centralized database as TF Chain was still under construction. Now, the new explorer receives its information via [GraphQL](https://library.threefold.me/info/manual/#/manual__explorer_graphql_intro) **straight from the [ThreeFold Blockhain](https://library.threefold.me/info/manual/#/manual__grid3_tfchain_init)**.
## What is GraphQL?
[GraphQL](https://graphql.org/) is an open source data query language for APIs. The GraphQL interface queries our blockchain and displays the information registered on it in a command-line interface. We, in turn, created a graphical representation of that information in our explorer.
## What to expect from the new Explorer UI
The **new [Explorer UI](https://library.threefold.me/info/manual/#/manual__explorer_home)** allows you to **explore the available Internet capacity** connected to ThreeFold Grid **easier than ever before**. As of now, the new Explorer displays data about the compute, storage, network and gateways connected to the Grid 3.x testnet and devnet by ThreeFold Farmers.
<br/>
The statistics section gives you **an overview of [key information](https://explorer.test.grid.tf/)** about our testnet (as of November 30th, 2021) as displayed below. Our farmer community has already connected **more than 100 nodes (across 16 countries)**, and we have seen **more than 1,400 contracts deployed** on the ThreeFold Grid 3.0 testnet since its launch.
<br/>
![tf_explorer_statistics](/images/blog/tf_explorer_statistics.png)
<br/>
*All screenshots in this post are from the ThreeFold Grid 3.x testnet Explorer, and the numbers are growing continuously.*
<br/>
Once a farm ID gets registered to **the new [TF Chain Portal](https://library.threefold.me/info/manual/#/manual__tfchain_portal_home)**, all the relevant information (e.g. uptime, nodes specifications, location) of farms are automatically displayed on the Explorer for users to find their ideal decentralized Internet capacity.
<br/>
Users can now explore all farms and [3Nodes](https://threefold.io/farm/) using **multiple filtering options** (e.g. farm name or farm ID), making it simpler than ever before to find the decentralized Internet capacity they are looking for.
<br/>
Not sure what the new Admin Portal is about? We’ve covered all the details in **our [previous update](https://forum.threefold.io/t/introducing-the-tf-chain-admin-portal-for-farmers-and-grid-users/1526)**, check it out!
<br/>
![tf_explorer_farms](/images/blog/tf_explorer_farms.png)
<br/>
![tf_explorer_nodes](/images/blog/tf_explorer_nodes.png)
<br/>
We also made the world map bigger to improve the display of the available decentralized Internet capacity.
<br/>
![tf_explorer_worldmap](/images/blog/tf_explorer_worldmap.png)
<br/>
Dark mode is finally available for the ThreeFod Grid 3.x, bringing **a more comfortable navigation** for some of us. Just click on the crescent/sun icon in the upper-right corner of the screen, and you’re good to go.
<br/>
![tf_explorer_darkmode](/images/blog/tf_explorer_darkmode.png)
<br/>
We invite you to **take a look at the ThreeFold Grid 3.x Explorer UI overview** with more details **[here](https://library.threefold.me/info/manual/#/manual__explorer_ui)**.
<br/>
*Keep in mind, the overview of all 3Nodes worldwide across all nets can be found [here](https://explorer.grid.tf/) and this will phase out as we approach 3.x mainnet launch as shared on our previous [update](https://forum.threefold.io/t/whats-new-in-tf-grid-3-0-1-and-the-path-to-mainnet/1488).*
<br/>
*Visit our forum to share you experiences with the new explorer interface [here](https://forum.threefold.io/t/the-threefold-grid-3-x-explorer-ui/1536).*

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author: HANNAH CORDES author: HANNAH CORDES
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