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So after browsing through Blockstack's website and a few of these Dapps there's something I don't quite understand. Storing data into the blockchain itself is o

by simias 9y ago

So after browsing through Blockstack's website and a few of these Dapps there's something I don't quite understand. Storing data into the blockchain itself is obviously extremely expensive so I wondered how they did that. Turns out that for most of these apps they either don't tell (as far as I can see) or have this exact same snippet of text in their FAQs: >By default, your data is stored in a dedicated Microsoft Azure Blob. But you can and should connect your Blockstack Browser to your own cloud storage solutions (preferably multiple). So... what's the idea here? I don't need ethereum to encrypt my data and upload them to various cloud storage services. Sounds to me like blockstack is an app framework like Google Play or the App Store, only you pay with ethereum instead of fiat and your data is encrypted locally before being uploaded. I mean that last bit is definitely a good thing but where's the famous "blockchain technology(c)(tm)" exactly?

Geee 9y ago
From the FAQ: Can Blockstack apps scale, given that Blockstack uses blockchains which don't scale that well? Yes. Blockstack only uses the blockchain for name registration. Everything else happens off-chain, so apps work just as fast as they do on the Web.
- simias 9y ago
  Ah, thank you for confirming that, I didn't think about looking at Blockstack's FAQ itself. But then I reiterate my question: what does the blockchain enable here exactly? TFA says that it's "exciting for crypto[currencies]" but it just seems like a cloud computing framework that happens to use ethereum for purchases. Just to be clear I'm not saying it's useless, actually being able to host your own data anywhere you want and having "end-to-end" encryption sounds great, I just don't see the "blockchain is going to revolutionize the world" angle.
  - berberous 9y ago
    Part of the problem here is that we are still in the infrastructure phase of blockchain development, so most dapps still rely on multiple centralized services. But as the infrastructure develops that will shift. For example, (i) all of the blockchains are working on scaling, (ii) Sia, Filecoin and a few others are working on blockchain based storage systems, (iii) Maker Dai, Basecoin and others are working on a stable coin, (iv) 0x and others are working on decentralized exchanges without custodians, (v) many are working on making addressed and key management easier, (vi) distributed identity verification and 'user trust' systems are developing, etc. All of that will take time, but as systems develop, more complex and more truly distributed dapps will be enabled.

by simias 9y ago

Geee 9y ago

From the FAQ: Can Blockstack apps scale, given that Blockstack uses blockchains which don't scale that well? Yes. Blockstack only uses the blockchain for name registration. Everything else happens off-chain, so apps work just as fast as they do on the Web.

simias 9y ago
Ah, thank you for confirming that, I didn't think about looking at Blockstack's FAQ itself. But then I reiterate my question: what does the blockchain enable here exactly? TFA says that it's "exciting for crypto[currencies]" but it just seems like a cloud computing framework that happens to use ethereum for purchases. Just to be clear I'm not saying it's useless, actually being able to host your own data anywhere you want and having "end-to-end" encryption sounds great, I just don't see the "blockchain is going to revolutionize the world" angle.
- berberous 9y ago
  Part of the problem here is that we are still in the infrastructure phase of blockchain development, so most dapps still rely on multiple centralized services. But as the infrastructure develops that will shift. For example, (i) all of the blockchains are working on scaling, (ii) Sia, Filecoin and a few others are working on blockchain based storage systems, (iii) Maker Dai, Basecoin and others are working on a stable coin, (iv) 0x and others are working on decentralized exchanges without custodians, (v) many are working on making addressed and key management easier, (vi) distributed identity verification and 'user trust' systems are developing, etc. All of that will take time, but as systems develop, more complex and more truly distributed dapps will be enabled.