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The tension between China and Taiwan remains heated up most of the time. In the ongoing hostile situation when Chinese hackers are attacking Taiwan, Ethereum IPFS becomes Taiwan’s first line of defense.
Last updated Aug 22, 2022 at 11:30 PM
Posted Aug 11, 2022 at 01:00 PM
What is IPFS?
The InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) is a peer-to-peer decentralized network of nodes used to store files in such a way that no single entity can remove them. This is done to avoid the regulatory removal of data and prevent hacks that can alter the files.
Imagine you buy an NFT and the next day you find out that your Ape does not look like an Ape. Strange, but it is quite possible if we don’t use IPFS in NFTs. NFTs are files, mostly image files. Images are stored on online servers. It is hard to temper with the blockchain, but what if your hosting company decides to take down an image?
Centralized power is injurious in any case. Therefore, the IPFS system is used to prevent data from relying on a single node. The data is distributed over the entire network and no single entity has control of it. The file storage and referencing systems for Ethereum are commonly compared to the BitTorrent peer-to-peer file sharing protocol.
IPFS infrastructure
Immediately after Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, the first official visit by an American since 1997, Chinese military maneuvers started near Taiwan. Subsequently, the news broke that the Ethereum IPFS is saving the island from hostile attacks by China.
The president of Taiwan, responding to Pelosi’s tweet, said that,
“Grateful to have friends in the international community standing with #Taiwan to defend democracy & uphold regional security."
Taiwan launched the Ethereum IPFS as the visit began. Minister Audrey Tang said that the Ministry of Digital Affairs has started working on this project and it will use the global blockchain community using the Web2 and Web3 sources.
“Yet, [an infraestrutura] was not attacked in any way and never went down for a second. It uses a Web3 framework linked to a global blockchain community and the global Web2 network as a foundation.”
The minister said that the Ethereum IPFS is the most secure security layer that can save them against cyberattacks. If this layer of security falls, then everything from Ethereum and NFTs will fall too. Therefore, it is very unlikely to happen. She also added that the project will include partners like Cloudflare and the Taiwanese social networking platform Dcard.
The proposed IPFS-based security layer includes the Web 2.5 Internet, which uses the Web3 products the ENS and NFTs and the Web2 protocols as a foundation. Web3 is yet not able to perform the complex functions that Web2 performs; likewise, Web2 has monopolies controlling the Internet. Therefore, a blend of both products, Web2.5, offers the best solution to rely on.
The idea of using IPFS, according to Tang, came about after Russia invaded Ukraine and used cyberattacks to disrupt Ukrainian infrastructure. The minister said that since the arrival of Pelosi, attacks on Taiwan’s Internet services have increased 23 times more than normal daily cyberattacks. Blockchain’s decentralized nature is very advantageous in foiling the Chinese cyberattacks which have risen to 15,000 gigabytes now.
Blockchain adoptions worldwide are encouraging for crypto enthusiasts. Whether it’s Russia replacing SWIFT with a blockchain-based international banking network, or Taiwan adopting Ethereum IPFS, it shows the world that blockchain can offer more than speculative assets and meme coins.
These endorsements and adoptions will make blockchain-based products like cryptocurrencies and NFTs mainstream. We are still living in the blockchain infancy, not knowing what this amazing technology has to offer. As the technology progresses, it will continue to pave the way for decentralized and monopolist-free entities.