Interview
Internet Computer – Replacing all of traditional IT with a blockchain | Dominic Williams | Fundamentals ep.68
The Internet Computer is a general-purpose blockchain that hosts canister smart contracts. It is designed to provide a World Computer that can replace traditional IT and host a new generation of Web3 services and applications that run solely from the blockchain, without the need for traditional IT. It can also play the role of Web3 orchestrator, by interacting with traditional blockchains.
In this episode with Dominic, we talk about the big vision behind the Internet Computer, and what the journey has looked like from initial idea to launching mainnet. Dominic walks us through the main technical innovations that have needed to be introduced to enable the vision for a true world computer, and we speak about the compelling real-world use cases that the IC can facilitate, and how adoption has been progressing for some of them.
Listen to the episode:
We cover the evolution of smart contracts, identity authentication, open internet services, and building tamperproof, autonomous, and sovereign infrastructure.
Tune in for a great discussion about restoring the Internet to its open, innovative, and creative roots.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:01 Replacing the legacy IT stack
04:38 Building web3 services 100% onchain, instead of on AWS
07:09 The inspiration for building a World Computer
13:12 The problems with legacy IT & rethinking our backend tech platform
14:22 Fulfilling the World Computer vision: Funding, R&D, and attracting talent
18:32 A blockchain that plays the role of cloud 3.0 will always be complex
19:28 Technical innovations: Proof of useful work consensus
22:08 Technical innovations: Chain-key cryptography
24:58 Technical innovations: Reverse gas model
25:19 Technical innovations: Canister smart contract framework
27:04 Technical innovations: How blockchain became a cloud
28:23 Technical innovations: Service Nervous System (SNS) DAO
30:14 Internet Identity
33:39 Building apps on the Internet Computer
34:33 OpenChat
39:35 Chain-key tokens: a cryptography-based replacement for wrapped tokens
41:00 True composability: linking together all blockchains without bridges
The authors of this content, or members, affiliates, or stakeholders of Token Terminal may be participating or are invested in protocols or tokens mentioned herein. The foregoing statement acts as a disclosure of potential conflicts of interest and is not a recommendation to purchase or invest in any token or participate in any protocol. Token Terminal does not recommend any particular course of action in relation to any token or protocol. The content herein is meant purely for educational and informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as financial, investment, legal, tax or any other professional or other advice. None of the content and information herein is presented to induce or to attempt to induce any reader or other person to buy, sell or hold any token or participate in any protocol or enter into, or offer to enter into, any agreement for or with a view to buying or selling any token or participating in any protocol. Statements made herein (including statements of opinion, if any) are wholly generic and not tailored to take into account the personal needs and unique circumstances of any reader or any other person. Readers are strongly urged to exercise caution and have regard to their own personal needs and circumstances before making any decision to buy or sell any token or participate in any protocol. Observations and views expressed herein may be changed by Token Terminal at any time without notice. Token Terminal accepts no liability whatsoever for any losses or liabilities arising from the use of or reliance on any of this content.
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