About ICP

About Internet Computer

Internet Computer / ICP (Internet Computer Protocol) is gaining attention as a "decentralized cloud" in the Web3 era.

ICP is more of a cloud than a blockchain. (It is a decentralized cloud that utilizes blockchain technology.)

It will not only make the current difficult UX of Web3 similar to that of the general web (improving development and user experience), including elements such as the integration of various blockchains (multi-chain), the application of AI on smart contracts (DeAI), and unified ID (SSIDID) with passwordless/WebAuthn, but also create an interoperable and composable service ecosystem using public clouds, add token economics and DAO-style governance (scalability not possible with the conventional Internet), and become an innovative application development platform from cost perspectives to added value creation.

Internet Computer Official Page

The Internet Computer is a virtual, decentralized cloud computing platform powered by the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP), which is powered by a network of countless independent (decentralized) data centers (nodes) around the world.

Like all blockchains, the network cannot be stopped and the code it hosts is tamper-proof due to proprietary cryptography.

Shift to an open Internet structure

All existing Internet vendors, including clouds like AWS, cloud services, content delivery services, firewalls, and database servers will shift their domains to an open Internet structure based on the Internet Computer Protocol (encryption).

Direct development/deployment to a scalable, decentralized cloud environment

Developers can directly deploy code/data to the Internet Computer, a virtual decentralized cloud computing platform. Smart contracts with storage called canisters allow developers to freely build scalable Web3 applications.

Reducing unnecessary intermediation costs and realizing an interoperable and composable web

The shift to a secure, unstoppable, tamper-proof, open Internet structure based on cryptography will dramatically reduce various IT costs and increase interoperability between various services and platforms. Therefore, it can be said that the Internet Computer's competition is not with other blockchains, but with existing cloud services, content distribution services, firewalls, and database servers. The vision is to open up the intermediary structure of the Internet and realize integrated use cases (including service-based/integrated governance and token economics).

Integration with Web2 and multichain possible without oracles

ICP enables direct interoperability with all major blockchains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other EVMs, without relying on trusted intermediaries (because "Chain-Key cryptography" allows Internet Computer smart contracts to perform private key distribution + threshold signing on Bitcoin and Ethereum type transactions based on ECDSA (cryptographic signature technology). This allows developers to write smart contracts that span different chains. (Direct integration with existing web services without intermediaries, not limited to blockchains, is also possible through HTTP outcalls.)

Many unique features

Based on the above, the next generation decentralized cloud called Internet Computer has many unique features.

WASM (WebAssembly) Cloud

The Internet Computer supports WebAssembly (WASM) on its virtual machine, and executes binary code in WASM, enabling high-load processing (super-fast processing) such as 3D and games in web browsers (e.g. WASM is also used in Unity, etc.). In addition, since it supports compilation from multiple programming languages (e.g. Rust, Typescript, Python, C++, etc.), developers can develop using the supported languages they are familiar with, which has the advantage of eliminating the need for additional learning costs.

Achieving web speed

By applying "Chain-Key" cryptography and other technologies, the Internet Computer can process up to 11,500 transactions per second, with an average finality of 2 seconds for update calls between subnets, and has demonstrated that query calls can be executed at web speeds, making it the most powerful 100% governed blockchain. In addition, the Internet Computer can infinitely expand its transaction processing capacity by adding nodes ( * ), so infinite scalability can be expected. We are making progress on our roadmap to further improve UX.

Integrated ID (Internet Identity) SSI/DID

Dfinity's unique WebAuthn technology allows you to access Web 3.0 experiences with fingerprint or facial recognition. No passwords are required. It realizes passwordless with various biometric authentication (FIDO authentication) only, and you can use your INTERNET IDENTITY ID on multiple devices and in multiple applications. Therefore, there is no need to manage multiple IDs/PASSes. In addition, since the technology is designed to have no third-party administrator of personal information, there is no risk of data being misused.

DeAI (decentralized AI)

The Internet Computer makes it possible to run decentralized AI (DeAI) on an on-chain smart contract ( roadmap in progress). The use of AI in the existing centralized server structure poses risks of integrity, confidentiality, and availability, such as tampering, privacy, and black-boxing of data. DeAI provides a fundamental solution to problems such as loss of digital sovereignty and privacy protection by running AI training and inference as a smart contract on-chain, which addresses the issue of trust in AI. It also redefines the governance and ownership model of public services, including AI, bringing widespread benefits to humanity.

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