Exa Protocol is distributed file system that enables humans to store their data on a decentralized storage network created using mobile devices.

Exa protocol is similar to AWS’s S3 service where you can put/get/delete files but it uses multiple nodes and peer to peer technology to achieve the same. With Exa Protocol, there is no single point of failure and offers high speed file retrieval and storage.

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Introduction

Decentralization has been the holy grail for achieving Cloud 2.0. Attempts have been made, however, the currentprotocols were designed to run on personal computers and hence they could not stop centralization of storage when data centres flocked to the network because of the reward.

Exa Protocol uses mobile first approach to decentralize data storage which allows mobile devices to act as public data storage devices. Exa Protocol uses blockchain technology manage and store files in the network and incentivizes those who contribute their free storage on their mobile devices in exchange for Exa Coins. A white paper has also been released that describes how the protocol will work. You can download the white paper from the website.

With the mobile first approach people who do not have the means to harness the power of decentralization and blockchain will be able to do it for the first time. This in true sense will be democratization of blockchain technology.

A truly distributed files system will exist only with a mobile first approach.
- Exa Protocol

We are currently developing Exa Protocol and have released an “Early Access App” that let’s you register your device as a node. You can download the app from the play store.

FAQs

Q. What’s with the name “Exa Protocol”?
A. Each year, around 80 Exabytes of storage is added to this world via new mobile devices. The protocol is to provide some of that space to the public.

Q. Why store data on mobile devices?
A. Mobile devices represent the smallest viable compute unit and in a true sense democratizes compute. The current blockchain systems need expensive hardware and consume enormous amount of electricity- the mobile devices don’t. The mobile devices are in the hands of average humans while data centres are in the hands of the few rich.

Q. What about data security and integrity?
A. The protocol encrypts the file using ZK Encryption and then shards it. The shards are stored on different devices. Only the file owner knows where the files are stored and how to decrypt them. For data integrity, multiple duplicates copies of the pieces are also stored.

Q. Won’t it be slow to retrieve data?
A. Not at all! Because the pieces of your data are stored in multiple devices, we will be using multiple peers to download/upload the data in parallel. With the advent of the 5G expect blazing fast data retrieval.

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